Solution:
Let O O O be the origin. Let A i A_{i} A i have position vector a ⃗ i \vec{a}_{i} a i for i = 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 i=1,2,3,4 i = 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 .
Since O B i OB_{i} O B i is parallel and equal in length to A i A i + 1 A_{i}A_{i+1} A i A i + 1 , we have:
O B ⃗ i = b ⃗ i = a ⃗ i + 1 − a ⃗ i
\vec{OB}_{i} = \vec{b}_{i} = \vec{a}_{i+1} - \vec{a}_{i}
O B i = b i = a i + 1 − a i
So B i B_{i} B i has position vector b ⃗ i = a ⃗ i + 1 − a ⃗ i \vec{b}_{i} = \vec{a}_{i+1} - \vec{a}_{i} b i = a i + 1 − a i .
The area of quadrilateral A 1 A 2 A 3 A 4 A_{1}A_{2}A_{3}A_{4} A 1 A 2 A 3 A 4 is:
S A = 1 2 ∣ ( a ⃗ 2 − a ⃗ 1 ) × ( a ⃗ 3 − a ⃗ 1 ) + ( a ⃗ 4 − a ⃗ 1 ) × ( a ⃗ 3 − a ⃗ 1 ) ∣
S_{A} = \frac{1}{2} | (\vec{a}_{2} - \vec{a}_{1}) \times (\vec{a}_{3} - \vec{a}_{1}) + (\vec{a}_{4} - \vec{a}_{1}) \times (\vec{a}_{3} - \vec{a}_{1}) |
S A = 2 1 ∣ ( a 2 − a 1 ) × ( a 3 − a 1 ) + ( a 4 − a 1 ) × ( a 3 − a 1 ) ∣
But for a quadrilateral with consecutive vertices P 1 , P 2 , P 3 , P 4 P_{1}, P_{2}, P_{3}, P_{4} P 1 , P 2 , P 3 , P 4 , the area is:
S = 1 2 ∣ ( P ⃗ 1 × P ⃗ 2 ) + ( P ⃗ 2 × P ⃗ 3 ) + ( P ⃗ 3 × P ⃗ 4 ) + ( P ⃗ 4 × P ⃗ 1 ) ∣
S = \frac{1}{2} | (\vec{P}_{1} \times \vec{P}_{2}) + (\vec{P}_{2} \times \vec{P}_{3}) + (\vec{P}_{3} \times \vec{P}_{4}) + (\vec{P}_{4} \times \vec{P}_{1}) |
S = 2 1 ∣ ( P 1 × P 2 ) + ( P 2 × P 3 ) + ( P 3 × P 4 ) + ( P 4 × P 1 ) ∣
Apply this to A 1 A 2 A 3 A 4 A_{1}A_{2}A_{3}A_{4} A 1 A 2 A 3 A 4 :
S A = 1 2 ∣ a ⃗ 1 × a ⃗ 2 + a ⃗ 2 × a ⃗ 3 + a ⃗ 3 × a ⃗ 4 + a ⃗ 4 × a ⃗ 1 ∣
S_{A} = \frac{1}{2} | \vec{a}_{1} \times \vec{a}_{2} + \vec{a}_{2} \times \vec{a}_{3} + \vec{a}_{3} \times \vec{a}_{4} + \vec{a}_{4} \times \vec{a}_{1} |
S A = 2 1 ∣ a 1 × a 2 + a 2 × a 3 + a 3 × a 4 + a 4 × a 1 ∣
Similarly, for B 1 B 2 B 3 B 4 B_{1}B_{2}B_{3}B_{4} B 1 B 2 B 3 B 4 :
S B = 1 2 ∣ b ⃗ 1 × b ⃗ 2 + b ⃗ 2 × b ⃗ 3 + b ⃗ 3 × b ⃗ 4 + b ⃗ 4 × b ⃗ 1 ∣
S_{B} = \frac{1}{2} | \vec{b}_{1} \times \vec{b}_{2} + \vec{b}_{2} \times \vec{b}_{3} + \vec{b}_{3} \times \vec{b}_{4} + \vec{b}_{4} \times \vec{b}_{1} |
S B = 2 1 ∣ b 1 × b 2 + b 2 × b 3 + b 3 × b 4 + b 4 × b 1 ∣
Recall b ⃗ i = a ⃗ i + 1 − a ⃗ i \vec{b}_{i} = \vec{a}_{i+1} - \vec{a}_{i} b i = a i + 1 − a i for i = 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 i=1,2,3,4 i = 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 (with A 5 = A 1 A_{5} = A_{1} A 5 = A 1 ).
Compute b ⃗ 1 × b ⃗ 2 \vec{b}_{1} \times \vec{b}_{2} b 1 × b 2 :
b ⃗ 1 × b ⃗ 2 = ( a ⃗ 2 − a ⃗ 1 ) × ( a ⃗ 3 − a ⃗ 2 )
\vec{b}_{1} \times \vec{b}_{2} = (\vec{a}_{2} - \vec{a}_{1}) \times (\vec{a}_{3} - \vec{a}_{2})
b 1 × b 2 = ( a 2 − a 1 ) × ( a 3 − a 2 )
Expand:
= a ⃗ 2 × a ⃗ 3 − a ⃗ 2 × a ⃗ 2 − a ⃗ 1 × a ⃗ 3 + a ⃗ 1 × a ⃗ 2
= \vec{a}_{2} \times \vec{a}_{3} - \vec{a}_{2} \times \vec{a}_{2} - \vec{a}_{1} \times \vec{a}_{3} + \vec{a}_{1} \times \vec{a}_{2}
= a 2 × a 3 − a 2 × a 2 − a 1 × a 3 + a 1 × a 2
But a ⃗ 2 × a ⃗ 2 = 0 \vec{a}_{2} \times \vec{a}_{2} = 0 a 2 × a 2 = 0 , so:
= a ⃗ 2 × a ⃗ 3 − a ⃗ 1 × a ⃗ 3 + a ⃗ 1 × a ⃗ 2
= \vec{a}_{2} \times \vec{a}_{3} - \vec{a}_{1} \times \vec{a}_{3} + \vec{a}_{1} \times \vec{a}_{2}
= a 2 × a 3 − a 1 × a 3 + a 1 × a 2
Similarly, compute all four terms:
1. b ⃗ 1 × b ⃗ 2 = a ⃗ 2 × a ⃗ 3 − a ⃗ 1 × a ⃗ 3 + a ⃗ 1 × a ⃗ 2 \vec{b}_{1} \times \vec{b}_{2} = \vec{a}_{2} \times \vec{a}_{3} - \vec{a}_{1} \times \vec{a}_{3} + \vec{a}_{1} \times \vec{a}_{2} b 1 × b 2 = a 2 × a 3 − a 1 × a 3 + a 1 × a 2 2. b ⃗ 2 × b ⃗ 3 = ( a ⃗ 3 − a ⃗ 2 ) × ( a ⃗ 4 − a ⃗ 3 ) = a ⃗ 3 × a ⃗ 4 − a ⃗ 2 × a ⃗ 4 − a ⃗ 3 × a ⃗ 3 + a ⃗ 2 × a ⃗ 3 = a ⃗ 3 × a ⃗ 4 − a ⃗ 2 × a ⃗ 4 + a ⃗ 2 × a ⃗ 3 \vec{b}_{2} \times \vec{b}_{3} = (\vec{a}_{3} - \vec{a}_{2}) \times (\vec{a}_{4} - \vec{a}_{3}) = \vec{a}_{3} \times \vec{a}_{4} - \vec{a}_{2} \times \vec{a}_{4} - \vec{a}_{3} \times \vec{a}_{3} + \vec{a}_{2} \times \vec{a}_{3} = \vec{a}_{3} \times \vec{a}_{4} - \vec{a}_{2} \times \vec{a}_{4} + \vec{a}_{2} \times \vec{a}_{3} b 2 × b 3 = ( a 3 − a 2 ) × ( a 4 − a 3 ) = a 3 × a 4 − a 2 × a 4 − a 3 × a 3 + a 2 × a 3 = a 3 × a 4 − a 2 × a 4 + a 2 × a 3 3. b ⃗ 3 × b ⃗ 4 = ( a ⃗ 4 − a ⃗ 3 ) × ( a ⃗ 1 − a ⃗ 4 ) = a ⃗ 4 × a ⃗ 1 − a ⃗ 3 × a ⃗ 1 − a ⃗ 4 × a ⃗ 4 + a ⃗ 3 × a ⃗ 4 = a ⃗ 4 × a ⃗ 1 − a ⃗ 3 × a ⃗ 1 + a ⃗ 3 × a ⃗ 4 \vec{b}_{3} \times \vec{b}_{4} = (\vec{a}_{4} - \vec{a}_{3}) \times (\vec{a}_{1} - \vec{a}_{4}) = \vec{a}_{4} \times \vec{a}_{1} - \vec{a}_{3} \times \vec{a}_{1} - \vec{a}_{4} \times \vec{a}_{4} + \vec{a}_{3} \times \vec{a}_{4} = \vec{a}_{4} \times \vec{a}_{1} - \vec{a}_{3} \times \vec{a}_{1} + \vec{a}_{3} \times \vec{a}_{4} b 3 × b 4 = ( a 4 − a 3 ) × ( a 1 − a 4 ) = a 4 × a 1 − a 3 × a 1 − a 4 × a 4 + a 3 × a 4 = a 4 × a 1 − a 3 × a 1 + a 3 × a 4 4. b ⃗ 4 × b ⃗ 1 = ( a ⃗ 1 − a ⃗ 4 ) × ( a ⃗ 2 − a ⃗ 1 ) = a ⃗ 1 × a ⃗ 2 − a ⃗ 4 × a ⃗ 2 − a ⃗ 1 × a ⃗ 1 + a ⃗ 4 × a ⃗ 1 = a ⃗ 1 × a ⃗ 2 − a ⃗ 4 × a ⃗ 2 + a ⃗ 4 × a ⃗ 1 \vec{b}_{4} \times \vec{b}_{1} = (\vec{a}_{1} - \vec{a}_{4}) \times (\vec{a}_{2} - \vec{a}_{1}) = \vec{a}_{1} \times \vec{a}_{2} - \vec{a}_{4} \times \vec{a}_{2} - \vec{a}_{1} \times \vec{a}_{1} + \vec{a}_{4} \times \vec{a}_{1} = \vec{a}_{1} \times \vec{a}_{2} - \vec{a}_{4} \times \vec{a}_{2} + \vec{a}_{4} \times \vec{a}_{1} b 4 × b 1 = ( a 1 − a 4 ) × ( a 2 − a 1 ) = a 1 × a 2 − a 4 × a 2 − a 1 × a 1 + a 4 × a 1 = a 1 × a 2 − a 4 × a 2 + a 4 × a 1
Add all four terms:
Sum:
[ a ⃗ 2 × a ⃗ 3 − a ⃗ 1 × a ⃗ 3 + a ⃗ 1 × a ⃗ 2 ] + [ a ⃗ 3 × a ⃗ 4 − a ⃗ 2 × a ⃗ 4 + a ⃗ 2 × a ⃗ 3 ] + [ a ⃗ 4 × a ⃗ 1 − a ⃗ 3 × a ⃗ 1 + a ⃗ 3 × a ⃗ 4 ] + [ a ⃗ 1 × a ⃗ 2 − a ⃗ 4 × a ⃗ 2 + a ⃗ 4 × a ⃗ 1 ]
\begin{align*}
& [\vec{a}_{2} \times \vec{a}_{3} - \vec{a}_{1} \times \vec{a}_{3} + \vec{a}_{1} \times \vec{a}_{2}] \\
& + [\vec{a}_{3} \times \vec{a}_{4} - \vec{a}_{2} \times \vec{a}_{4} + \vec{a}_{2} \times \vec{a}_{3}] \\
& + [\vec{a}_{4} \times \vec{a}_{1} - \vec{a}_{3} \times \vec{a}_{1} + \vec{a}_{3} \times \vec{a}_{4}] \\
& + [\vec{a}_{1} \times \vec{a}_{2} - \vec{a}_{4} \times \vec{a}_{2} + \vec{a}_{4} \times \vec{a}_{1}]
\end{align*}
[ a 2 × a 3 − a 1 × a 3 + a 1 × a 2 ] + [ a 3 × a 4 − a 2 × a 4 + a 2 × a 3 ] + [ a 4 × a 1 − a 3 × a 1 + a 3 × a 4 ] + [ a 1 × a 2 − a 4 × a 2 + a 4 × a 1 ]
Now, group like terms:
- a ⃗ 2 × a ⃗ 3 \vec{a}_{2} \times \vec{a}_{3} a 2 × a 3 appears twice - a ⃗ 3 × a ⃗ 4 \vec{a}_{3} \times \vec{a}_{4} a 3 × a 4 appears twice - a ⃗ 4 × a ⃗ 1 \vec{a}_{4} \times \vec{a}_{1} a 4 × a 1 appears twice - a ⃗ 1 × a ⃗ 2 \vec{a}_{1} \times \vec{a}_{2} a 1 × a 2 appears twice
Negative terms: - − a ⃗ 1 × a ⃗ 3 -\vec{a}_{1} \times \vec{a}_{3} − a 1 × a 3 - − a ⃗ 2 × a ⃗ 4 -\vec{a}_{2} \times \vec{a}_{4} − a 2 × a 4 - − a ⃗ 3 × a ⃗ 1 -\vec{a}_{3} \times \vec{a}_{1} − a 3 × a 1 - − a ⃗ 4 × a ⃗ 2 -\vec{a}_{4} \times \vec{a}_{2} − a 4 × a 2
But a ⃗ 1 × a ⃗ 3 + a ⃗ 3 × a ⃗ 1 = 0 \vec{a}_{1} \times \vec{a}_{3} + \vec{a}_{3} \times \vec{a}_{1} = 0 a 1 × a 3 + a 3 × a 1 = 0 (since u ⃗ × v ⃗ = − v ⃗ × u ⃗ \vec{u} \times \vec{v} = -\vec{v} \times \vec{u} u × v = − v × u ), so − a ⃗ 1 × a ⃗ 3 − a ⃗ 3 × a ⃗ 1 = 0 -\vec{a}_{1} \times \vec{a}_{3} - \vec{a}_{3} \times \vec{a}_{1} = 0 − a 1 × a 3 − a 3 × a 1 = 0 . Similarly, − a ⃗ 2 × a ⃗ 4 − a ⃗ 4 × a ⃗ 2 = 0 -\vec{a}_{2} \times \vec{a}_{4} - \vec{a}_{4} \times \vec{a}_{2} = 0 − a 2 × a 4 − a 4 × a 2 = 0 .
So the sum is:
2 [ a ⃗ 1 × a ⃗ 2 + a ⃗ 2 × a ⃗ 3 + a ⃗ 3 × a ⃗ 4 + a ⃗ 4 × a ⃗ 1 ]
2[\vec{a}_{1} \times \vec{a}_{2} + \vec{a}_{2} \times \vec{a}_{3} + \vec{a}_{3} \times \vec{a}_{4} + \vec{a}_{4} \times \vec{a}_{1}]
2 [ a 1 × a 2 + a 2 × a 3 + a 3 × a 4 + a 4 × a 1 ]
Therefore,
S B = 1 2 ∣ 2 [ a ⃗ 1 × a ⃗ 2 + a ⃗ 2 × a ⃗ 3 + a ⃗ 3 × a ⃗ 4 + a ⃗ 4 × a ⃗ 1 ] ∣ = ∣ a ⃗ 1 × a ⃗ 2 + a ⃗ 2 × a ⃗ 3 + a ⃗ 3 × a ⃗ 4 + a ⃗ 4 × a ⃗ 1 ∣ = 2 S A
S_{B} = \frac{1}{2} |2[\vec{a}_{1} \times \vec{a}_{2} + \vec{a}_{2} \times \vec{a}_{3} + \vec{a}_{3} \times \vec{a}_{4} + \vec{a}_{4} \times \vec{a}_{1}]| = |\vec{a}_{1} \times \vec{a}_{2} + \vec{a}_{2} \times \vec{a}_{3} + \vec{a}_{3} \times \vec{a}_{4} + \vec{a}_{4} \times \vec{a}_{1}| = 2S_{A}
S B = 2 1 ∣2 [ a 1 × a 2 + a 2 × a 3 + a 3 × a 4 + a 4 × a 1 ] ∣ = ∣ a 1 × a 2 + a 2 × a 3 + a 3 × a 4 + a 4 × a 1 ∣ = 2 S A
Thus, the area of B 1 B 2 B 3 B 4 B_{1}B_{2}B_{3}B_{4} B 1 B 2 B 3 B 4 is twice that of A 1 A 2 A 3 A 4 A_{1}A_{2}A_{3}A_{4} A 1 A 2 A 3 A 4 .