- #1
leroyjenkens
- 616
- 49
Homework Statement
Using vectors, the dot product, and the cross product, prove that the sum of the squares of the diagonals of a parallelogram is equal to twice the sum of the squares of two adjacent sides of the parallelogram.
Homework Equations
[tex]|A·B|=|A||B|cosθ[/tex]
[tex]|AxB|=|A||B|sinθ[/tex]
The Attempt at a Solution
I used the Pythagorean theorem to solve it easily. But I don't know how to solve it using vectors. Is the problem expecting me to draw a parallelogram using arrows? I could create the same triangle I made to solve it using the P-theorem, but that would just be making a triangle. I need to make a parallelogram. It seems like the best the dot and cross product could do is tell me the angle of the triangle. I don't see how it's going to give me the square of anything.