CALCULUS AND VECTORS (MCV4U)

UNIT 4: GEOMETRIC AND ALGEBRAIC VECTORS

7.2 The Dot Product There are two types of vector multiplication: (1) the dot product or scalar product, which results in a scalar; (2) the cross product or vector product, which results in a vector. 1. The Definition of the Dot Product The dot product of two vectors u and v , denoted by u v , is defined as u v = u v cos (0 180)

2. Properties of the Dot Product (1) Commutative Law: u v = v u

(2) Distributive Law: u (v + w ) = u v + u w (3) k( u v ) = (ku) v = u (kv ) = ( u v ) k, k (Associative Law?)

2 (4) u u = u

j j (5) i i = = k k = 1

(6) For non-zero vectors u and v , u v = 0 u and v are perpendicular.

j j 0 (7) i = i =

k = k = 0 j j
k i = i k = 0

3. The Dot Product for Cartesian Vectors We can also use the coordinates to work out the dot product, without having to know the angle between the vectors.

If u = u1i + u2 + u3 k and v = v1i + v 2 + v 3 k , then j j

u v = (u1i + u2 + u3 k ) (v1i + v 2 + v 3 k ) j j j = u1v1 (i i ) + u1v 2 (i ) + u1v 3 (i k ) + u2v1 ( i ) + u2v 2 ( ) + u2v 3 ( k ) j j j j j + u3v1 ( k i ) + u3v 2 ( k ) + u3v 3 ( k k ) = u1v1 + u2v 2 + u3v 3

Example 1:

a. Find the dot product of u b. Find the dot product of u c. Find the angle between u Solution: a. u v = (24)(9)cos 34
179.1
b. u v = (1, 0) (2 8) = (1)(2) + (0)(8) = 2

and v if u = 24 , v = 9 , and = 34. and v if u = (1, 0) and v = (2, 8) . and v if u = (3, 1, 2) and v = (5, 4, 1) .

u v c. cos = uv = = (3)(5) + (1)(4) + (2)(1) (3) 2 +12 + 2 2 5 2 + (4) 2 + (1) 2

3 2 = 150

Example 2: Use the properties of the dot product to expand and simplify each expression. a. (ku) ( u + v ) b. ( r + s ) ( r s )

Solution:
a. (ku) ( u + v ) = (ku) u + (ku) v = k( u u) + k( u v ) 2 = k u + k( u v )

b. ( r + s ) ( r s ) = ( r + s ) r + ( r + s ) (s ) = r r + s r r s s s 2 2 = r + r s r s s 2 2 =r s

Example 3:

Determine if the vectors a = (6, 2, 4) and b = (9, 3, 6) are collinear using the dot product.
Solution: a b cos = ab

(6)(9) + (2)(3) + (4)(6) 6 2 + 2 2 + 4 2 9 2 + 32 + 6 2

Therefore a and b are collinear.

=1 = 0

Example 4:

a. Prove that two non-zero vectors u and v are orthogonal (perpendicular) if and only if u v = 0 .
b. Find a vector that is orthogonal to (3, 4, 5). Solution:

a. First, prove that if u and v are orthogonal, then u v = 0 . If u and v are non-zero and orthogonal, then the angle between them is 90. Thus, u v = u v cos90 = 0

Next, prove that if u v = 0 , then u and v are orthogonal. Let u v = 0 , then u v = u v cos = 0 But u 0, v 0 , thus
cos = 0 = 90

b. Let u = (x, y, z) be the vector that is orthogonal to (3, 4, 5), then

(3, 4, 5) (x, y, z) = 0 3x + 4 y + 5z = 0

This equation has infinitely many solution sets for (x, y, z) , that is, there are infinitely many vectors orthogonal to (3, 4, 5).
To find a particular vector solution, choose any values (not both zero) for two of the variables and 4 4 solve for the third variable. E.g. let x = 0, y = 1, then z = . Therefore u = 0,1, . 5 5

Homework: Pg. 375: C1-C4 Pg. 375: 1, 2c)-f), 3, 4c)-f), 5-8, 12 Pg. 399: C5 Pg. 400: 15 f)-i), 16, 17, 23-33