How to calculate the area of a triangle ABC when given three position vectors $a, b$, and $ c$ in 3D?












5












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Where $a = ( 1, 2, 3), b = (2, 1, 3) $, and $c = (3,1,2). $










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  • $begingroup$
    We can find the lengths of the sides and apply Heron's Formula.
    $endgroup$
    – Indrayudh Roy
    Apr 3 '14 at 14:26
















5












$begingroup$


Where $a = ( 1, 2, 3), b = (2, 1, 3) $, and $c = (3,1,2). $










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    We can find the lengths of the sides and apply Heron's Formula.
    $endgroup$
    – Indrayudh Roy
    Apr 3 '14 at 14:26














5












5








5





$begingroup$


Where $a = ( 1, 2, 3), b = (2, 1, 3) $, and $c = (3,1,2). $










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$endgroup$




Where $a = ( 1, 2, 3), b = (2, 1, 3) $, and $c = (3,1,2). $







triangle vectors area






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edited Jan 9 at 2:38









Community

1




1










asked Apr 3 '14 at 14:21









user138913user138913

941210




941210












  • $begingroup$
    We can find the lengths of the sides and apply Heron's Formula.
    $endgroup$
    – Indrayudh Roy
    Apr 3 '14 at 14:26


















  • $begingroup$
    We can find the lengths of the sides and apply Heron's Formula.
    $endgroup$
    – Indrayudh Roy
    Apr 3 '14 at 14:26
















$begingroup$
We can find the lengths of the sides and apply Heron's Formula.
$endgroup$
– Indrayudh Roy
Apr 3 '14 at 14:26




$begingroup$
We can find the lengths of the sides and apply Heron's Formula.
$endgroup$
– Indrayudh Roy
Apr 3 '14 at 14:26










6 Answers
6






active

oldest

votes


















5












$begingroup$

Heron works of course but it would be simpler to take half the length of the cross product
$(b-a)times(c-a)$.






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$





















    2












    $begingroup$

    Solution: Construct the vectors $hat{ab}$, $hat{ac}$ and take $frac{1}{2} |hat{ab} times hat{ac}|$. We take half of the resulting since the original gives the area of the parallelogram decsribed by the vectors.






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$





















      2












      $begingroup$

      use this formula:
      $$S=sqrt{p(p-s_1)(p-s_2)(p-s_3)}$$
      where $p=frac{s_1+s_2+s_3}{2}$, and $s_1,s_2,s_3$ are the lengths of the three sides. You can get $s_1,s_2,s_3$ from the three positions.






      share|cite|improve this answer









      $endgroup$





















        2












        $begingroup$

        Compute the differences $a-b$ and $a-c$. then take the cross product of them $(a-c)times(a-c)$. The norm of this, divided by two is the area of the triangle.






        share|cite|improve this answer









        $endgroup$





















          0












          $begingroup$

          One way to do it would be to first find out the length of each of the 3 sides, by simply applying Pythagorus. e.g.



          AB = $sqrt{(2-0)^2 + (1-1)^2 + (4-3)^2}=sqrt5$



          You can do this for all of the sides, and it is possible to find the area of a triangle given the length of each of its sides.






          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$





















            0












            $begingroup$

            Cross product works great as a black box, but it lacks geometric intuition.



            enter image description here



            For triangle ABC, we construct a line segment intersecting C, and normal to side AB. The triangle's area is $0.5cdot left | overrightarrow{AB} right |cdot left | overrightarrow{CH} right |$
            $$left | overrightarrow{CH} right |=left | overrightarrow{AC} right | cdot sin(θ)$$
            where
            $$θ = arccos(frac{overrightarrow{AB} cdot overrightarrow{AC}}{left | overrightarrow{AB} right | cdot left | overrightarrow{AC} right |})$$



            Thus:
            $$Area=0.5cdot left | overrightarrow{AB} right |cdot left | overrightarrow{AC} right |cdot sin(θ)$$
            This is equal to:
            $$0.5cdot left | overrightarrow{AB} times overrightarrow{AC} right |$$



            This is why
            $$0.5cdot left | overrightarrow{AB} times overrightarrow{AC} right |=0.5cdot left | overrightarrow{AB} right |cdot left | overrightarrow{AC} right |cdot sin(θ)$$






            share|cite|improve this answer











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              6 Answers
              6






              active

              oldest

              votes








              6 Answers
              6






              active

              oldest

              votes









              active

              oldest

              votes






              active

              oldest

              votes









              5












              $begingroup$

              Heron works of course but it would be simpler to take half the length of the cross product
              $(b-a)times(c-a)$.






              share|cite|improve this answer









              $endgroup$


















                5












                $begingroup$

                Heron works of course but it would be simpler to take half the length of the cross product
                $(b-a)times(c-a)$.






                share|cite|improve this answer









                $endgroup$
















                  5












                  5








                  5





                  $begingroup$

                  Heron works of course but it would be simpler to take half the length of the cross product
                  $(b-a)times(c-a)$.






                  share|cite|improve this answer









                  $endgroup$



                  Heron works of course but it would be simpler to take half the length of the cross product
                  $(b-a)times(c-a)$.







                  share|cite|improve this answer












                  share|cite|improve this answer



                  share|cite|improve this answer










                  answered Apr 3 '14 at 14:34









                  jenajena

                  32412




                  32412























                      2












                      $begingroup$

                      Solution: Construct the vectors $hat{ab}$, $hat{ac}$ and take $frac{1}{2} |hat{ab} times hat{ac}|$. We take half of the resulting since the original gives the area of the parallelogram decsribed by the vectors.






                      share|cite|improve this answer









                      $endgroup$


















                        2












                        $begingroup$

                        Solution: Construct the vectors $hat{ab}$, $hat{ac}$ and take $frac{1}{2} |hat{ab} times hat{ac}|$. We take half of the resulting since the original gives the area of the parallelogram decsribed by the vectors.






                        share|cite|improve this answer









                        $endgroup$
















                          2












                          2








                          2





                          $begingroup$

                          Solution: Construct the vectors $hat{ab}$, $hat{ac}$ and take $frac{1}{2} |hat{ab} times hat{ac}|$. We take half of the resulting since the original gives the area of the parallelogram decsribed by the vectors.






                          share|cite|improve this answer









                          $endgroup$



                          Solution: Construct the vectors $hat{ab}$, $hat{ac}$ and take $frac{1}{2} |hat{ab} times hat{ac}|$. We take half of the resulting since the original gives the area of the parallelogram decsribed by the vectors.







                          share|cite|improve this answer












                          share|cite|improve this answer



                          share|cite|improve this answer










                          answered Apr 3 '14 at 14:27









                          Mr.FryMr.Fry

                          3,89021223




                          3,89021223























                              2












                              $begingroup$

                              use this formula:
                              $$S=sqrt{p(p-s_1)(p-s_2)(p-s_3)}$$
                              where $p=frac{s_1+s_2+s_3}{2}$, and $s_1,s_2,s_3$ are the lengths of the three sides. You can get $s_1,s_2,s_3$ from the three positions.






                              share|cite|improve this answer









                              $endgroup$


















                                2












                                $begingroup$

                                use this formula:
                                $$S=sqrt{p(p-s_1)(p-s_2)(p-s_3)}$$
                                where $p=frac{s_1+s_2+s_3}{2}$, and $s_1,s_2,s_3$ are the lengths of the three sides. You can get $s_1,s_2,s_3$ from the three positions.






                                share|cite|improve this answer









                                $endgroup$
















                                  2












                                  2








                                  2





                                  $begingroup$

                                  use this formula:
                                  $$S=sqrt{p(p-s_1)(p-s_2)(p-s_3)}$$
                                  where $p=frac{s_1+s_2+s_3}{2}$, and $s_1,s_2,s_3$ are the lengths of the three sides. You can get $s_1,s_2,s_3$ from the three positions.






                                  share|cite|improve this answer









                                  $endgroup$



                                  use this formula:
                                  $$S=sqrt{p(p-s_1)(p-s_2)(p-s_3)}$$
                                  where $p=frac{s_1+s_2+s_3}{2}$, and $s_1,s_2,s_3$ are the lengths of the three sides. You can get $s_1,s_2,s_3$ from the three positions.







                                  share|cite|improve this answer












                                  share|cite|improve this answer



                                  share|cite|improve this answer










                                  answered Apr 3 '14 at 14:29









                                  MartialMartial

                                  1,0041917




                                  1,0041917























                                      2












                                      $begingroup$

                                      Compute the differences $a-b$ and $a-c$. then take the cross product of them $(a-c)times(a-c)$. The norm of this, divided by two is the area of the triangle.






                                      share|cite|improve this answer









                                      $endgroup$


















                                        2












                                        $begingroup$

                                        Compute the differences $a-b$ and $a-c$. then take the cross product of them $(a-c)times(a-c)$. The norm of this, divided by two is the area of the triangle.






                                        share|cite|improve this answer









                                        $endgroup$
















                                          2












                                          2








                                          2





                                          $begingroup$

                                          Compute the differences $a-b$ and $a-c$. then take the cross product of them $(a-c)times(a-c)$. The norm of this, divided by two is the area of the triangle.






                                          share|cite|improve this answer









                                          $endgroup$



                                          Compute the differences $a-b$ and $a-c$. then take the cross product of them $(a-c)times(a-c)$. The norm of this, divided by two is the area of the triangle.







                                          share|cite|improve this answer












                                          share|cite|improve this answer



                                          share|cite|improve this answer










                                          answered Apr 3 '14 at 14:32









                                          JackJack

                                          23416




                                          23416























                                              0












                                              $begingroup$

                                              One way to do it would be to first find out the length of each of the 3 sides, by simply applying Pythagorus. e.g.



                                              AB = $sqrt{(2-0)^2 + (1-1)^2 + (4-3)^2}=sqrt5$



                                              You can do this for all of the sides, and it is possible to find the area of a triangle given the length of each of its sides.






                                              share|cite|improve this answer









                                              $endgroup$


















                                                0












                                                $begingroup$

                                                One way to do it would be to first find out the length of each of the 3 sides, by simply applying Pythagorus. e.g.



                                                AB = $sqrt{(2-0)^2 + (1-1)^2 + (4-3)^2}=sqrt5$



                                                You can do this for all of the sides, and it is possible to find the area of a triangle given the length of each of its sides.






                                                share|cite|improve this answer









                                                $endgroup$
















                                                  0












                                                  0








                                                  0





                                                  $begingroup$

                                                  One way to do it would be to first find out the length of each of the 3 sides, by simply applying Pythagorus. e.g.



                                                  AB = $sqrt{(2-0)^2 + (1-1)^2 + (4-3)^2}=sqrt5$



                                                  You can do this for all of the sides, and it is possible to find the area of a triangle given the length of each of its sides.






                                                  share|cite|improve this answer









                                                  $endgroup$



                                                  One way to do it would be to first find out the length of each of the 3 sides, by simply applying Pythagorus. e.g.



                                                  AB = $sqrt{(2-0)^2 + (1-1)^2 + (4-3)^2}=sqrt5$



                                                  You can do this for all of the sides, and it is possible to find the area of a triangle given the length of each of its sides.







                                                  share|cite|improve this answer












                                                  share|cite|improve this answer



                                                  share|cite|improve this answer










                                                  answered Apr 3 '14 at 14:31









                                                  JangoJango

                                                  352214




                                                  352214























                                                      0












                                                      $begingroup$

                                                      Cross product works great as a black box, but it lacks geometric intuition.



                                                      enter image description here



                                                      For triangle ABC, we construct a line segment intersecting C, and normal to side AB. The triangle's area is $0.5cdot left | overrightarrow{AB} right |cdot left | overrightarrow{CH} right |$
                                                      $$left | overrightarrow{CH} right |=left | overrightarrow{AC} right | cdot sin(θ)$$
                                                      where
                                                      $$θ = arccos(frac{overrightarrow{AB} cdot overrightarrow{AC}}{left | overrightarrow{AB} right | cdot left | overrightarrow{AC} right |})$$



                                                      Thus:
                                                      $$Area=0.5cdot left | overrightarrow{AB} right |cdot left | overrightarrow{AC} right |cdot sin(θ)$$
                                                      This is equal to:
                                                      $$0.5cdot left | overrightarrow{AB} times overrightarrow{AC} right |$$



                                                      This is why
                                                      $$0.5cdot left | overrightarrow{AB} times overrightarrow{AC} right |=0.5cdot left | overrightarrow{AB} right |cdot left | overrightarrow{AC} right |cdot sin(θ)$$






                                                      share|cite|improve this answer











                                                      $endgroup$


















                                                        0












                                                        $begingroup$

                                                        Cross product works great as a black box, but it lacks geometric intuition.



                                                        enter image description here



                                                        For triangle ABC, we construct a line segment intersecting C, and normal to side AB. The triangle's area is $0.5cdot left | overrightarrow{AB} right |cdot left | overrightarrow{CH} right |$
                                                        $$left | overrightarrow{CH} right |=left | overrightarrow{AC} right | cdot sin(θ)$$
                                                        where
                                                        $$θ = arccos(frac{overrightarrow{AB} cdot overrightarrow{AC}}{left | overrightarrow{AB} right | cdot left | overrightarrow{AC} right |})$$



                                                        Thus:
                                                        $$Area=0.5cdot left | overrightarrow{AB} right |cdot left | overrightarrow{AC} right |cdot sin(θ)$$
                                                        This is equal to:
                                                        $$0.5cdot left | overrightarrow{AB} times overrightarrow{AC} right |$$



                                                        This is why
                                                        $$0.5cdot left | overrightarrow{AB} times overrightarrow{AC} right |=0.5cdot left | overrightarrow{AB} right |cdot left | overrightarrow{AC} right |cdot sin(θ)$$






                                                        share|cite|improve this answer











                                                        $endgroup$
















                                                          0












                                                          0








                                                          0





                                                          $begingroup$

                                                          Cross product works great as a black box, but it lacks geometric intuition.



                                                          enter image description here



                                                          For triangle ABC, we construct a line segment intersecting C, and normal to side AB. The triangle's area is $0.5cdot left | overrightarrow{AB} right |cdot left | overrightarrow{CH} right |$
                                                          $$left | overrightarrow{CH} right |=left | overrightarrow{AC} right | cdot sin(θ)$$
                                                          where
                                                          $$θ = arccos(frac{overrightarrow{AB} cdot overrightarrow{AC}}{left | overrightarrow{AB} right | cdot left | overrightarrow{AC} right |})$$



                                                          Thus:
                                                          $$Area=0.5cdot left | overrightarrow{AB} right |cdot left | overrightarrow{AC} right |cdot sin(θ)$$
                                                          This is equal to:
                                                          $$0.5cdot left | overrightarrow{AB} times overrightarrow{AC} right |$$



                                                          This is why
                                                          $$0.5cdot left | overrightarrow{AB} times overrightarrow{AC} right |=0.5cdot left | overrightarrow{AB} right |cdot left | overrightarrow{AC} right |cdot sin(θ)$$






                                                          share|cite|improve this answer











                                                          $endgroup$



                                                          Cross product works great as a black box, but it lacks geometric intuition.



                                                          enter image description here



                                                          For triangle ABC, we construct a line segment intersecting C, and normal to side AB. The triangle's area is $0.5cdot left | overrightarrow{AB} right |cdot left | overrightarrow{CH} right |$
                                                          $$left | overrightarrow{CH} right |=left | overrightarrow{AC} right | cdot sin(θ)$$
                                                          where
                                                          $$θ = arccos(frac{overrightarrow{AB} cdot overrightarrow{AC}}{left | overrightarrow{AB} right | cdot left | overrightarrow{AC} right |})$$



                                                          Thus:
                                                          $$Area=0.5cdot left | overrightarrow{AB} right |cdot left | overrightarrow{AC} right |cdot sin(θ)$$
                                                          This is equal to:
                                                          $$0.5cdot left | overrightarrow{AB} times overrightarrow{AC} right |$$



                                                          This is why
                                                          $$0.5cdot left | overrightarrow{AB} times overrightarrow{AC} right |=0.5cdot left | overrightarrow{AB} right |cdot left | overrightarrow{AC} right |cdot sin(θ)$$







                                                          share|cite|improve this answer














                                                          share|cite|improve this answer



                                                          share|cite|improve this answer








                                                          edited Jan 4 at 18:25

























                                                          answered Jan 4 at 18:19









                                                          zyczyc

                                                          1114




                                                          1114






























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