Chapter 2.

Section 3 Page 1 of 3

Section 2.3 The Dot and Cross Products

Homework (pages 146-147) problems 1-26, 32-39

The Dot Product: G G Recall the law of Cosines, which indicates that for given vectors u and v ,

G G G2 G2 G G u v = u + v 2 u v cos G2 G2 G G u + v u v u v +u v Therefore, solving we find cos = = 11 G G G G2 2 2u v u v GT G Recall the dot product given previously as u v . G G The dot product is defined by u v = u1v1 + u2 v2 in two dimensions. In three dimensions it is defined G G to be u v = u1v1 + u2 v2 + u3v3 . G 2 G 3 Exercise 2: Find the dot product for u = and v = . 3 2 Using this notation in the equation above, for any two nonzero vectors in the plane or three-space, G G G G u v = u v cos .

G 2 G 3 Exercise 6: Determine cos where is the angle between u = and v = . 3 1 G G G G G G G G Exercise 12: Find in radians where is the angle between u = i +2 j +k and v = 3i +6 j +3k . G G J G For vectors u, v and w the following properties hold for the dot product G G o u u 0 G G G G o u v = v u G G G G o u (cv) = c(u v) G G J G G G G J G o u (v + w) = u v + u w G G G G u v = 0 , if and only if the vectors u and v are orthogonal (or perpendicular).

C. Bellomo, revised 19-Sep-07

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G G G G G G Exercise 16: Find the vector u that satisfies u i = 12 u k = 3 u = 13 . G G G G G G G J G G J G J G Exercise 36: Find a vector w so that u w = 0 and v w = 0 given u = i + j v = i + k .

Projections: G G The projection of the vector u onto q is expressed by G q G G G G (u ) = u cos G v = projq q

G G u G = G q q q2

()

G Sometimes, as in the example below we want to express a vector u in the form of a sum of vectors normal to and parallel to the given plane.

J G G G G G J G G G (u ) . By construction, w is parallel to the plane, and v is First notice that w = u v , and v = projq

perpendicular to the given plane. Hence, G G J G G G G G G G G (u ) + [u proj G (u )] u = v + w = v + (u v) = projq q

G JJJ G G JJJG G G u for P = (7,6) and Q = (4,1). Exercise 20: Find u = OP, v = OQ, projv

C. Bellomo, revised 19-Sep-07

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JG G JG JJ G G JG JJ G G 6 G 1 JG JJ G G u , u u , u = u + u for u = Exercise 24: Find u1 and u2 so that u1 = projq 1 2 1 2 2 q = 1 .

The Cross Product: J G G G The cross product allows us to find a vector w that is orthogonal to two other vectors u and v . u v u v u v G 1 G 1 G G 2 3 3 2 The cross product for two vectors u = u2 and v = v2 is given by u v = u3v1 u1v3 . u3 v3 u1v2 u2 v1 This can be remembered using determinants as follows G G G i j k u v u v G G G G G 2 3 3 2 u v = u1 u2 u3 = (u2 v3 u3v2 )i + (u3v1 u1v3 ) j + (u1v2 u2 v1 )k = u3v1 u1v3 . v v v 2 3 u1v2 u2 v1 1 G G G G G G G G Exercise 34: Find the cross product of u = i + j + 3k , v = 2i + 2 j + 6k . The cross G product G G has G the following properties: o u v = v u G G G o u u = 0 G G G G G G o (cu ) v = u (cv) = c(u v) G G J G G G G J G o u (v + w) = u v + u w G G J G G G J G o u (v w) = (u v) w This is known as the scalar triple product G G J G o u (v w) is known as the vector triple product G G G G G G The length of u v is given by u v = u v sin , for the angle between them.

C. Bellomo, revised 19-Sep-07