Question

Compute the area of the parallelogram formed by A(-2, 1, 4), B(0, -2, 3) C(-1, 6, 5), and D(1, 3, 4).

So for this problem, do I turn the four points into two vectors with AD and BC and then take the cross product and then find the magnitude?

Taking the cross product and magnitude is the easy part, but I'm not sure how exactly to turn the four given coordinates into vectors.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

take the cross product of any two adjacent sides.
http://onlinemschool.com/math/assistance/vector/multiply1/
this allows you to just use the points given

Answer 2

sketch graph first :)

A to B = +2i-3j-1k
B to D = +1i+5j+1k
D to C = -2i+3j+1k parallel to AB
C to A = -1i-5j-1k parallel to BD

so use AB cross BD for example