area of a parallelogram using vectors

[mathstresser]

I am given three points
P (-1,2,0)
Q (2,1,-3)
S (3,-2,3)

S is in the top left corner. P is in the bottom left corner. Q is in the bottom right corner.

Do I take the vector PS and cross it with the vector PQ?

If I do, I get

i(-12+3)-j(12-9)+k(-4+12)
-9i-3j+8k

So to get the area of the paralellogram, do I add these components?

Does that make the area (the absolute value of) -4, so the area is 4?

 

[daon]

I am given three points
P (-1,2,0)
Q (2,1,-3)
S (3,-2,3)

S is in the top left corner. P is in the bottom left corner. Q is in the bottom right corner.

Do I take the vector PS and cross it with the vector PQ?

If I do, I get

i(-12+3)-j(12-9)+k(-4+12)
-9i-3j+8k

So to get the area of the paralellogram, do I add these components?

Does that make the area (the absolute value of) -4, so the area is 4?

Area of parallelogram is |PQ x PS|. Take your cross-product and find its magnitude.

 

[mathstresser]

Thank you!