I have a set with two vectors in $R^3$. What method should I use to find the vectors orthogonal to both in the original set?

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There are so many different methods I've found on SE and through Matlab, and they're all giving me different results.



Specifically, I have v1 = (1,2,1) and v2 = (2,1,0) in set S. What is the method to find v3 vectors that are orthogonal to both v1 and v2?



I'm preparing for a final and I'm trying to find a flexible method for many cases. The answer I got for above was v3 = 1,-2,3 but different methods are returning different results.










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  • Keep in mind that there is an infinite number of vectors that are perpendicular to two other vectors—in fact they form a subspace of $mathbb R^3$. It shouldn’t be all that surprising that different methods choose a different vector from this space.
    – amd
    Aug 31 at 20:09














up vote
0
down vote

favorite












There are so many different methods I've found on SE and through Matlab, and they're all giving me different results.



Specifically, I have v1 = (1,2,1) and v2 = (2,1,0) in set S. What is the method to find v3 vectors that are orthogonal to both v1 and v2?



I'm preparing for a final and I'm trying to find a flexible method for many cases. The answer I got for above was v3 = 1,-2,3 but different methods are returning different results.










share|cite|improve this question





















  • Keep in mind that there is an infinite number of vectors that are perpendicular to two other vectors—in fact they form a subspace of $mathbb R^3$. It shouldn’t be all that surprising that different methods choose a different vector from this space.
    – amd
    Aug 31 at 20:09












up vote
0
down vote

favorite









up vote
0
down vote

favorite











There are so many different methods I've found on SE and through Matlab, and they're all giving me different results.



Specifically, I have v1 = (1,2,1) and v2 = (2,1,0) in set S. What is the method to find v3 vectors that are orthogonal to both v1 and v2?



I'm preparing for a final and I'm trying to find a flexible method for many cases. The answer I got for above was v3 = 1,-2,3 but different methods are returning different results.










share|cite|improve this question













There are so many different methods I've found on SE and through Matlab, and they're all giving me different results.



Specifically, I have v1 = (1,2,1) and v2 = (2,1,0) in set S. What is the method to find v3 vectors that are orthogonal to both v1 and v2?



I'm preparing for a final and I'm trying to find a flexible method for many cases. The answer I got for above was v3 = 1,-2,3 but different methods are returning different results.







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asked Aug 31 at 8:21









Bryan Walsh

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  • Keep in mind that there is an infinite number of vectors that are perpendicular to two other vectors—in fact they form a subspace of $mathbb R^3$. It shouldn’t be all that surprising that different methods choose a different vector from this space.
    – amd
    Aug 31 at 20:09
















  • Keep in mind that there is an infinite number of vectors that are perpendicular to two other vectors—in fact they form a subspace of $mathbb R^3$. It shouldn’t be all that surprising that different methods choose a different vector from this space.
    – amd
    Aug 31 at 20:09















Keep in mind that there is an infinite number of vectors that are perpendicular to two other vectors—in fact they form a subspace of $mathbb R^3$. It shouldn’t be all that surprising that different methods choose a different vector from this space.
– amd
Aug 31 at 20:09




Keep in mind that there is an infinite number of vectors that are perpendicular to two other vectors—in fact they form a subspace of $mathbb R^3$. It shouldn’t be all that surprising that different methods choose a different vector from this space.
– amd
Aug 31 at 20:09










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
1
down vote



accepted










Guide:



Your answer should be a non-zero scalar multiple of the $v_3$ that you provided since $v_1$ and $v_2$ are not parallel to each other.



Method $1$:



  • Compute the cross product of $v_1$ and $v_2$, that will give you a valid solution.

Method $2$:



  • Solve the linear system $v_1^Tx=0$ and $v_2^Tx=0$ by reducing the system say to REF. You will obtain multiple solution, of which all of them are scalar multiple of $v_3$.

Either method should be fine.






share|cite|improve this answer




















  • Thank you! The cross product made it all come together. Had some issues with positive/negative values in my method, but I forgot about the +, -, + property of the cross product.
    – Bryan Walsh
    Aug 31 at 8:50

















up vote
0
down vote













What I would do:



  • Compute the planes orthogonal to both of your vectors.

A plane orthogonal to the vector $(a,b,c)$ has the equation $ax + by + cz + d = 0, forall d in mathbbR$



  • Compute the intersection of the two planes by replacing the first plane equation in the second one





share|cite|improve this answer




















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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes








    up vote
    1
    down vote



    accepted










    Guide:



    Your answer should be a non-zero scalar multiple of the $v_3$ that you provided since $v_1$ and $v_2$ are not parallel to each other.



    Method $1$:



    • Compute the cross product of $v_1$ and $v_2$, that will give you a valid solution.

    Method $2$:



    • Solve the linear system $v_1^Tx=0$ and $v_2^Tx=0$ by reducing the system say to REF. You will obtain multiple solution, of which all of them are scalar multiple of $v_3$.

    Either method should be fine.






    share|cite|improve this answer




















    • Thank you! The cross product made it all come together. Had some issues with positive/negative values in my method, but I forgot about the +, -, + property of the cross product.
      – Bryan Walsh
      Aug 31 at 8:50














    up vote
    1
    down vote



    accepted










    Guide:



    Your answer should be a non-zero scalar multiple of the $v_3$ that you provided since $v_1$ and $v_2$ are not parallel to each other.



    Method $1$:



    • Compute the cross product of $v_1$ and $v_2$, that will give you a valid solution.

    Method $2$:



    • Solve the linear system $v_1^Tx=0$ and $v_2^Tx=0$ by reducing the system say to REF. You will obtain multiple solution, of which all of them are scalar multiple of $v_3$.

    Either method should be fine.






    share|cite|improve this answer




















    • Thank you! The cross product made it all come together. Had some issues with positive/negative values in my method, but I forgot about the +, -, + property of the cross product.
      – Bryan Walsh
      Aug 31 at 8:50












    up vote
    1
    down vote



    accepted







    up vote
    1
    down vote



    accepted






    Guide:



    Your answer should be a non-zero scalar multiple of the $v_3$ that you provided since $v_1$ and $v_2$ are not parallel to each other.



    Method $1$:



    • Compute the cross product of $v_1$ and $v_2$, that will give you a valid solution.

    Method $2$:



    • Solve the linear system $v_1^Tx=0$ and $v_2^Tx=0$ by reducing the system say to REF. You will obtain multiple solution, of which all of them are scalar multiple of $v_3$.

    Either method should be fine.






    share|cite|improve this answer












    Guide:



    Your answer should be a non-zero scalar multiple of the $v_3$ that you provided since $v_1$ and $v_2$ are not parallel to each other.



    Method $1$:



    • Compute the cross product of $v_1$ and $v_2$, that will give you a valid solution.

    Method $2$:



    • Solve the linear system $v_1^Tx=0$ and $v_2^Tx=0$ by reducing the system say to REF. You will obtain multiple solution, of which all of them are scalar multiple of $v_3$.

    Either method should be fine.







    share|cite|improve this answer












    share|cite|improve this answer



    share|cite|improve this answer










    answered Aug 31 at 8:25









    Siong Thye Goh

    81.7k1454104




    81.7k1454104











    • Thank you! The cross product made it all come together. Had some issues with positive/negative values in my method, but I forgot about the +, -, + property of the cross product.
      – Bryan Walsh
      Aug 31 at 8:50
















    • Thank you! The cross product made it all come together. Had some issues with positive/negative values in my method, but I forgot about the +, -, + property of the cross product.
      – Bryan Walsh
      Aug 31 at 8:50















    Thank you! The cross product made it all come together. Had some issues with positive/negative values in my method, but I forgot about the +, -, + property of the cross product.
    – Bryan Walsh
    Aug 31 at 8:50




    Thank you! The cross product made it all come together. Had some issues with positive/negative values in my method, but I forgot about the +, -, + property of the cross product.
    – Bryan Walsh
    Aug 31 at 8:50










    up vote
    0
    down vote













    What I would do:



    • Compute the planes orthogonal to both of your vectors.

    A plane orthogonal to the vector $(a,b,c)$ has the equation $ax + by + cz + d = 0, forall d in mathbbR$



    • Compute the intersection of the two planes by replacing the first plane equation in the second one





    share|cite|improve this answer
























      up vote
      0
      down vote













      What I would do:



      • Compute the planes orthogonal to both of your vectors.

      A plane orthogonal to the vector $(a,b,c)$ has the equation $ax + by + cz + d = 0, forall d in mathbbR$



      • Compute the intersection of the two planes by replacing the first plane equation in the second one





      share|cite|improve this answer






















        up vote
        0
        down vote










        up vote
        0
        down vote









        What I would do:



        • Compute the planes orthogonal to both of your vectors.

        A plane orthogonal to the vector $(a,b,c)$ has the equation $ax + by + cz + d = 0, forall d in mathbbR$



        • Compute the intersection of the two planes by replacing the first plane equation in the second one





        share|cite|improve this answer












        What I would do:



        • Compute the planes orthogonal to both of your vectors.

        A plane orthogonal to the vector $(a,b,c)$ has the equation $ax + by + cz + d = 0, forall d in mathbbR$



        • Compute the intersection of the two planes by replacing the first plane equation in the second one






        share|cite|improve this answer












        share|cite|improve this answer



        share|cite|improve this answer










        answered Aug 31 at 8:28









        PackSciences

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