On

a.k.a Dot and Cross products of vectors

Lets cut to the chase..

What is a

is also known as
.

If we have two vectors; a and b ,then the scalar or the

dot product of the two vectors is represented as such;

When a=<a1,a2,a3> and b=<b1,b2,b3> that is a and b are 3-D
vectors.

a.b = <a1b1+a2b2+a3b3>

Note : the dot product of two vectors is always a scalar; the
reason for the name - scalar product.

So think about it this way

a DOT

looks kinda like a RING; a wedding ring

ONE

Example

Find a.b where a =2i-4j+3k and b=i+5j-2k

Solution

a.b=[(2)(1)+(-4)(5)+(3)(-2)]

=2 - 20 - 6
=-24
therefore
a.b= -24 (a single value a scalar)

Properties of Dot products of Vectors

1) a.a=

2)a.b=b.a(commutativity)

3)a.(b+c)=a.b+a.c(right distributivity)

4)(ca).b=c(a.b)=a.(cb)

5)0.a=0

How on earth can a.a

2
=|a|

From the left hand side

Since a= <a1, a2, a3>

a.a = <a1, a2, a3> . <a1, a2, a3>

a.a = <a1.a1, a2.a2, a3.a3>

a.a = a12 +a22 + a32

Conversely, starting from the right hand side we have

= a12 +a22 + a32

|a|2 =a12 +a22 + a32

|a|

Orthogonal Vectors

Two vectors a and b are said to be orthogonal if their scalar product is

equal to zero.
a.b=0 this happens when the vectors are perpendicular to each other.
Note : where is the angle between the two vectors dot product yields the
following results;
a.b=0 when =900
a.b>0 when < 900
a.b<0 when > 900

Vector Product
can also be referred to as
of vectors.

Unlike scalar product ,cross product of two
vectors results in another vector.

So think about it this way

a CROSS

Is a shape made up from

and when vectors are crossed together, they give another vector ( in terms
of i,j and k) and not a single value (scalar)


If I have the vectors a and b then; b=b1i+b2j+b3k or <b1, b2, b3>

Where a=a1i+a2j+a3k or <a1, a2, a3>

Then a cross b a x b

= a1i (b1i+b2j+b3k)+
)+a
)+a
)+ 2j (b1i+b2j+b3k)+
)+ 3k (b1i+b2j+b3k))
OR
= a1 <b1, b2, b3> a2<b1, b2, b3>
a3<b1, b2, b3>

Its just like regular multiplication or

expansion... HOW?


For instance, if I am to multiply (x2+x+2) and (2x2 + 4x2 5)

(x2+x+2) x (2x2 + 4x2 5)

X2 (2x2 + 4x2 5) + x (2x2 + 4x2 5) + 2 (2x2 + 4x2 5)

Compare

a1 <b1, b2, b3>

a2<b1, b2, b3>

a3<b1, b2, b3>

Remember: Each term will have an i,j or k attached to it. And when any

of these letters multiply each other theyll give the following.

The cross product cycle

+j

+k

j
+i

clockwise movement

will yield a positive product.

i
-j

-k

j
-i

anticlockwise movement will

yield a negative product.


we also should note the following;

i x j= k
j x i= -k

j x k= i
k x j= -i

k x i= j
i x k= -j

i x i = 0

jxj=0

kxk=0

ND
2

METHOD

ADDITIONAL INFO

The lengths of dot and cross products are given by the following

DOT PRODUCT

|a.b | = |a | |b | cos

CROSS PRODUCT

|a x b | = |a | |b | sin

SIN (sine) has been paid for on the CROSS

Hope you guys got most, and hopefully, all

of these

If you did or didnt, lets try these ones out

TRY THEM

If a= <2,-3,5> and b = <-3,1,6>

or if you like- a= (2i-3j+5k) and b= (-3i+j+6k)

Evaluate

i) a . b

ii) a x b


May God perfect your understanding of this in Jesus

name.