If the vectorsandare joined by a third vectorto form a solid shape, then the volume of the solid is the area of the base (which we may consider to be the area of the parallelpiped formed byand) multiplied by the height.is perpendicular to bothandso is in the direction of the vertical height. By taking the dot product ofwithand dividing bywe obtain the component ofperpendicular toThis is the height of the parallelpiped. Multiplying bygives the volume: This is illustrated below.

If the vectorsare in the same plane, then they are linearly dependent, since three vectors in a two dimensional space are linearly dependent. They all lie in the same plane and the height of the parallelpiped is zero. If a matrix is formed with the columns or rows consisting of the three vectors, the determinant of this matrix will be zero since the vectors are linearly dependent.