Show that the area of the triangle contained between the vectors

Question.
Show that the area of the triangle contained between the vectors $\mathbf{a}$ and $\mathbf{b}$ is one half of the magnitude of $\mathbf{a} \times \mathbf{b}$.

solution:

Consider two vectors $\overrightarrow{\mathrm{OK}}=|\vec{a}|$ and $\overrightarrow{\mathrm{OM}}=|\vec{b}|$, inclined at an angle $\theta$, as shown in the following figure.

Show that the area of the triangle contained between the vectors

In $\Delta \mathrm{OMN}$, we can write the relation:

$\sin \theta=\frac{\mathrm{MN}}{\mathrm{OM}}=\frac{\mathrm{MN}}{|\vec{b}|}$

$\mathrm{MN}=|\vec{b}| \sin \theta$

$|\vec{a} \times \vec{a}|=|\vec{a}||\vec{b}| \sin \theta$

$=\mathrm{OK} \cdot \mathrm{MN} \times \frac{2}{2}$

$=2 \times$ Area of $\Delta$ OMK

$=2 \times$ Area of $\Delta \mathrm{OMK}$

$\therefore$ Area of $\triangle \mathrm{OMK}=\frac{1}{2}|\vec{a} \times \vec{b}|$

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