The cross product symbol is a mathematical operation that produces a vector perpendicular to two given vectors. It is also known as the vector product or outer product. In LaTeX, the cross product symbol is represented by the command \times.
How to Use the Cross Product Symbol in LaTeX
To use the cross product symbol in LaTeX, simply type \times between the two vectors you want to multiply. For example, to write the cross product of vectors a and b, you would type:
\mathbf{a} \times \mathbf{b}
This will produce the following output:
a × b
Examples of Cross Product Symbols in LaTeX
Here are some more examples of how to use the cross product symbol in LaTeX:
-
Cross product of two vectors:
\mathbf{a} \times \mathbf{b} = \begin{pmatrix} a_2 b_3 - a_3 b_2 \\ a_3 b_1 - a_1 b_3 \\ a_1 b_2 - a_2 b_1 \end{pmatrix}This will produce the following output:
a × b =
(
a<sub>2</sub>b<sub>3</sub> - a<sub>3</sub>b<sub>2</sub>
a<sub>3</sub>b<sub>1</sub> - a<sub>1</sub>b<sub>3</sub>
a<sub>1</sub>b<sub>2</sub> - a<sub>2</sub>b<sub>1</sub>
)
-
Cross product of two vectors in boldface:
\mathbf{a} \times \mathbf{b} = \begin{pmatrix} a_2 b_3 - a_3 b_2 \\ a_3 b_1 - a_1 b_3 \\ a_1 b_2 - a_2 b_1 \end{pmatrix}This will produce the following output:
a × b =
(
a<sub>2</sub>b<sub>3</sub> - a<sub>3</sub>b<sub>2</sub>
a<sub>3</sub>b<sub>1</sub> - a<sub>1</sub>b<sub>3</sub>
a<sub>1</sub>b<sub>2</sub> - a<sub>2</sub>b<sub>1</sub>
)
Tips for Using the Cross Product Symbol in LaTeX
- Make sure you are using the correct command,
\times. - Use the
\mathbfcommand to make your vectors bold. - Use the
\begin{pmatrix}and\end{pmatrix}commands to create matrices.
Conclusion
The cross product symbol is a useful tool for representing vector products in LaTeX. By using the \times command, you can easily create professional-looking mathematical equations that include the cross product symbol.
