Dot Definition and 564 Threads

  1. jdawg

    How do I solve the dot and cross product of 3i and jxk?

    Homework Statement The value of 3i(dot)(jxk) Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I know the answer is 3, but could someone please explain how to work this problem?
  2. S

    MHB These two problems are based on Vectors, dot product and distance for sphere.

    Problem 1: Let S1 be a sphere centered at(0, 1, -3) with radius 1 and let S2 be a sphere centered at (3, 5, -9) with radius 2. Find the distance between the two spheres. problem 2: Given three non-zero vectors v1, v2, v3 we say that they are mutually orthogonal when v1 dot v2= 0, v1 dot v3=0 ...
  3. T

    Find the True Statement About Dot Product of Two Vectors

    Homework Statement The dot product of.two vectors is -1which of the following statements is true A. They must be unit vectors pointing in opposite directions. B. They must be unit vectors pointing j. The same direction. C. They must be more than 90( and less than 270 )degrees from each...
  4. L

    Show that the dot product is linear: Bra-ket notation

    Homework Statement Show that the dot product in two-dimensional space is linear: <u|(|v> + |w>) = <u|v> + <u|w> The Attempt at a Solution I feel like I'm missing some grasp of the concept here ... I would think to just distribute the <u| and be done in that one step, but I'm being...
  5. E

    Can the Vector Scalar Product Equation be Solved for x Using Cross Product?

    I have been asked to solve the equation for x - All letters bar λ are vectors. λx + (a cross x) = b I have worked it down as far as x.(λb + (b cross a)) = |b|^2 by taking the dot product with b of both sides. But is there any way I can now solve this equation for x?
  6. S

    Prove that the absolute value of a dot product is less than or equal t

    Homework Statement That is prove that |a•c|≤|a||c| for any vector a=<a1,a2,a3> & c=<c1,c2,c3> Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I really don't have much of an attempt at the solution. I am not sure where to start. I can kind of justify it in my mind by saying the...
  7. Ascendant78

    Method for proofs involving vectors and dot products?

    Ok, I'm going to be taking calc III next week, so I wanted to get a head-start by doing the MIT multivariable calculus opencourseware. While most of the material was easy, these proofs are really killing me. Here are two examples: Ex.1: Using vectors and dot product show the diagonals of a...
  8. T

    Calculating a theta using dot product in 3D coordinate

    I'm so confused about finding an angle, theta in this illustration. With having three coordinate information, how can I calculate the theta using dot product? I would easily find the angle by using trigonometric formula if I ignore the z-axis. But I want to solve this problem with...
  9. J

    An extension of Dot and Cross Product

    I was thinking, if exist a product (cross) between vectors defined as: \vec{a}\times\vec{b}=a\;b\;sin(\theta)\;\hat{c} and a product (dot) such that: \vec{a}\cdot\vec{b}=a\;b\;cos(\theta) Why not define more 2 products that result: \\a\;b\;sin(\theta) \\a\;b\;cos(\theta)\;\hat{d} So, for...
  10. mesa

    Question about line integral of F dot dr

    Homework Statement Evaluate the line integral of F dot dr where f(x,y)=<3x^2,2x+y> and C is a straight line segment from (1,2) to (5,4) Homework Equations Unfortunately I was out with family obligations when we covered line integrals and surface integrals so am stuck with the textbook...
  11. J

    Inner Product vs Dot Product: Understanding the Difference

    A simple question: what is the difference between inner product and dot product?
  12. F

    Can we simplify the integral of a dot product to just the product itself?

    Hello, I have a quick question about integrals of dot products. We are learning about magnetic flux as the integral of b dot da. However, what circumstances must be present where we can simplify this integral into (b*a) and ignore the integral?
  13. H

    Changing Dot Product to Simple Multiplication

    How does one change the dot product such that there is no dot product in between, just plain multiplication? For example, in the following: eb.\partialcea=-\Gammaa bc How do I get just an expression for \partialcea?
  14. J

    Proof of Dot Product Vector Equation: u•v = ||u|| ||v|| cos (theta)

    Homework Statement Prove that if u and v are nonzero vectors, and theta is the angle between them then u dot product v = ||u|| ||v|| cos (theta). Consider the triangle with sides u ,v , and u-v. The Law of Cosines implies that ||u-v||^2 = ||u||^2 + ||v||^2 - 2||u|| ||v|| cos(theta). On the...
  15. P

    Derive cross product from dot product

    can you show me derive cross product from dot product?
  16. W

    Gradient of the dot product of two vectors that are the same

    Hi, I am trying find the simplified expression of this: ∇(E \cdot E) Where E is the electric field that can written as E_{0}(exp(i(kx-ωt)) I know that since the two vectors are the same => E \cdot E = ||E||^{2} Do I take the gradient of the magnitude then? It just doesn't feel...
  17. PsychonautQQ

    Cross product and Dot product problem

    Homework Statement if v x w = <5,5,-2> (v cross w) and v * w = 6 (v dot w) then what is the tan(θ) between the two vectors v and w? The Attempt at a Solution well I was thinking v x w = |v||w|sinθ as well as v dot w (v*w) = |v|w|cosθ divide one equation by the other...
  18. PsychonautQQ

    Calculating Work Using Dot Product: Constant Force and Particle Position

    Homework Statement A constant force of 1i - 5j -8k moves (1,-4,2) (-3,2,-1), what is the work done on the particle? Homework Equations Avector*Bvector=ABsinθ ?? I think? The Attempt at a Solution I really am quite lost... but I found the coordinates for the position vector...
  19. G

    MHB Problem involving matrix multiplication and dot product in one proof

    The problem is: Let A be a real m x n matrix and let x be in R^n and y be in R^m (n and m dimensional real vector spaces, respectively). Show that the dot product of Ax with y equals the dot product of x with A^Ty (A^T is the transpose of A). The way I went about starting this problem is to...
  20. D

    MHB How Do I Take the Dot Product of a Complex Expression with Itself?

    $$ \frac{(\dot{\mathbf{r}}\times\ddot{\mathbf{r}}) \times\dot{\mathbf{r}}}{\lvert\dot{\mathbf{r}} \rvert\lvert\dot{\mathbf{r}}\times\ddot{\mathbf{r}}\rvert} $$ How do I take that dot product of the expression of above with itself?
  21. M

    Momentum, position vector dot (scalar) product action

    momentum, position vector dot (scalar) product "action" Hello, I was playing with single mass point classical mechanics, when I realized that the dot product of the position vector and momentum vector, p.r , has action dimension. Furthermore, its time derivative, d/dt(p.r) = F.r + p.v, has...
  22. O

    Calculating x for Perpendicular Vectors A and B: Dot and Cross Product Homework

    Homework Statement A=(x,3,1) ,B=(x,-x,2) Determine the value of x if the vector perpendicular to A and B is given by C=(10,-4,-4) Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution Find A cross B , let A cross B be D . Then D cross C = zero (since they are perpendicular to both A and...
  23. D

    Cauchy Schwarz proof with alternative dot product definition

    Homework Statement Does the Cauchy Schwarz inequality hold if we define the dot product of two vectors A,B \in V_n by \sum_{k=1}^n |a_ib_i| ? If so, prove it. Homework Equations The Cauchy-Schwarz inequality: (A\cdot B)^2 \leq (A\cdot A)(B\cdot B) . Equality holds iff one of the vectors...
  24. J

    Is A always equal to zero if it is perpendicular to every vector X?

    Homework Statement Let A be a vector perpendicular to every vector X. Show that A = O Edit: it is O not 0. (OH not zero) haHomework Equations So, we know if A and X are perpendicular then A(dot)X = 0 I see no reason why A would have to be equal to 0. Could X (not equal) 0? Could it be...
  25. S

    Trying to understand dot product of two DIFFERENT vectors

    Understanding the use of Pythagorean theorem for the length and square of a vector and how this is the dot product of a vector with itself is no problem. I'm trying to look inside the meaning of the dot product of two different vectors and understand it. I can also accept (just following the...
  26. C

    Formal definition of quantum dot

    Is there a definition of quantum dot that everybody agrees? I searched intensively both from google and from web of science, but I couldn't find a formal definition. e.g (wiki says) A quantum dot is a semiconductor whose excitons are confined in all three spatial dimensions. confined but...
  27. V

    Dot Product Clarification (Kleppner & Kolenkow p.9)

    Problem: In Kleppner's book, Introduction to Mechanics, he states "By writing \vec{A} and \vec{B} as the sums of vectors along each of the coordinate axes, you can verify that \vec{A} \cdot \vec{B} = A_{x}B_{x} + A_{y}B_{y} + A_{z}B_{z}." He suggests summing vectors, but since the sum of two...
  28. D

    How is the Centrifugal Force Derived from Scalar Potentials?

    The centrifugal force is $$ \Omega\times r\times \Omega $$ I paper I am reading then writes it as ##\frac{1}{2}(r\Omega)^2 - \frac{1}{2}\Omega^2r^2## How was this obtained? Using the fact that ##a\times b\times c = (ac)b - (ab)c##, I don't get what they are getting so there is...
  29. O

    What is the Dot Product of Two 2x2 Matrices?

    This seems like a very basic question that I should know the answer to, but in my image processing class, my teacher explained that a basis set of images(matrices) are orthonormal. He said that the DOT product between two basis images (in this case two 2x2 matrices) is 0. so, for example...
  30. G

    What is the Error in Calculating the Integral of Dot Product?

    Hi all, I'm working on a math problem with a known answer - though I can't reproduce the maths. The problem is this: there is a random 3d vector of unit length with a uniform probability, \vec{v}, and a secondary unit vector \vec{u}. It is stated that: f = \int_{S^2}{| \vec{v} \cdot...
  31. cocopops12

    Is the Dot Product Definition Valid Only for Orthogonal Coordinates?

    The definition of the dot product is given by A = <a1,b1> B = <a2,b2> A dot B = a1a2 + b1b2 Is this definition valid for orthogonal coordinates only?
  32. N

    Orthogonal Vectors for Sphere Construction: Find Center and Radius

    R <x,y,z> A<a1,a2,a3> B<b1,b2,b3> Show that (r-a).(r-b)=0 represents a sphere find its center and radius So i see that if 2 vectors are orthogonal you can create a sphere and find the radius and center but can somone better explain this problem
  33. N

    Find 2 Unit Vectors at Angle π/3 with <3,4> using Dot Product

    find 2 unit vectors that make an angle of pi/3 with <3,4> <3,4>dot<a,b>=5/2=3a+4b b=5/8-3/4 a |<a,b>|=1 such that a^2+25/64+15/16a+9/16 a^2=1 25/16 a^2+15/16/ a=39/64 100a^2+60a=39 a^2+3/5a=39/100 (a+3/10)^2=48/100 a=(4sqrt(3)+-3)/10 so b=5/8-(12sqrt(3)+9)/40...
  34. E

    What is the Lewis Dot Diagram for SiC2?

    I need to determine what type of covalent bond SiC2 (silicon dicarbide) and so creating the lewis dot diagram is helpful. I know I have 12 electrons available but I can't seem to draw it :/
  35. N

    Find 2 Unit Vectors at 60 Degrees with <3,4> - Dot Product Calculation

    Find 2 unit vectors that make a 60 degree angle with <3,4> Vector <a,b> Taking b=1 cos60=1/2 3a+4=(5/2 )sqrt(a^2+1) 36a^2+96a+64=25a^2+25 11a^2+96a=-39 (sqrt(11)a+48)^2= 2265 +- a=(sqrt(2265)-48)/sqrt(11)
  36. M

    Dot Product: Understand When to Use Each Method

    I'm reading up on dot products and keep seeing two different examples. One states that u\cdotv = u_{i}\cdotv_{i} + u_{j}\cdotv_{j} Another: u\cdotv = |u|\cdot|v|cosθ I'm not understanding when to use the first or second method?
  37. E

    Is taking the square value of a dot product a valid mathematical operation?

    I was recently going through the proof of Compton scattering and I saw that they took a square value and wrote it as p^2=p(dot)p= etc... Is this true or all squared values?
  38. D

    Is the Dot Product of Two Vector Pairs Always Commutative?

    Homework Statement The Attempt at a Solution I am working a physics problem and want to make sure I'm not making a mistake in the math. Here is my math inquiry: Say you have (a*b)(c*d) where * indicates the dot product, and a,b,c, and d are all vectors. Can you say that (a*b)(c*d) =...
  39. E

    Is the Dot Product in the Navier-Stokes Equation Commutative?

    1. In the navier stokes equation we have the term (\vec{u} \bullet∇)\vec{u} If I have \vec{u} = f(r)(-y,x) with r= \sqrt{x^2+y^2} then is there some some of product rule/identity that needs to be invoked for the initial dot product? I would say this calculation is...
  40. K

    Dot Product Involving Path of a Curve

    Homework Statement Let ##\gamma(t)## be a path describing a level curve of ##f : \mathbb{R}^2 \to \mathbb{R}##. Show, for all ##t##, that ##( \nabla f ) (\gamma(t))## is orthogonal to ##\gamma ' (t)##Homework Equations ##\gamma(t) = ((x(t), y(t))## ##\gamma ' (t) = F(\gamma(t))## ##F = \nabla f...
  41. V

    Solve Dot Product Riddle in 3 or 1 Guess

    I was recently posed a riddle that went like the following: There are two people. Person A picks three numbers from 0-99. Person B guesses which three numbers that person A has picked. Then, person A gives the dot product of his picked numbers with person B's guessed numbers. The question is...
  42. S

    How Do You Derive the Laplacian of a Bloch Wavefunction in k.p Theory?

    (maybe this should go in the math section?) Homework Statement I'm supposed to derive the k.p form of the Schroedinger equation by plugging in the Bloch wavefunction expansion. But my actual question is just about the math. Homework Equations So when I plugged Bloch into the SE, one of the...
  43. C

    Finding angle through cross and dot product

    By using both cross and dot products, the angle between 2 vectors can be found. But there is 1 question that I tried for countless times that the result of cross product and dot product are not the same. Here is the vectors that I am talking about A= 2i+3j=k B= -4i+2j-k The result by...
  44. C

    The reverse operation for the dot product?

    Okay. First off. This isn't homework. I have been working on a personal project and if I could get an equation for this it would really help me out. I'll try and explain the problem the best I can. What I need: An equation/method where I can specify an angle theta and a 3D line and it...
  45. L

    Gradient of a dot product identity proof?

    Gradient of a dot product identity proof? Homework Statement I have been given a E&M homework assignment to prove all the vector identities in the front cover of Griffith's E&M textbook. I have trouble proving: (1) ∇(A\bulletB) = A×(∇×B)+B×(∇×A)+(A\bullet∇)B+(B\bullet∇)A Homework...
  46. A

    A Dot product analysis proof (might be simple)

    Homework Statement so we have a (D) Line (geometry) it's Cartesian equation is ax+by+c=0 we have an A(\alpha,\beta) prove that the distance between the line(D) and the point A is d=\frac{la\alpha+b\beta+cl}{\sqrt{a^2+b^2}}Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution let every distance be a...
  47. D

    MHB Derivative dot product cross product

    $$ \frac{d}{dt}[\mathbf{a}\cdot (\mathbf{v}\times\mathbf{r})] = \dot{\mathbf{a}}\cdot (\mathbf{v}\times\mathbf{r}). $$ How is this true? Shouldn't the derivative affect the cross product as well?
  48. C

    Shedding some light on the dot product

    The dot product A . B is the magnitude of vector A times the projection of B onto A. B . A is the magnitude of vector B times the projection of A onto B. Correct? A . B = B . A and this makes sense. But, say you're trying to find the components of a vector V in the direction of a vector W...
  49. C

    Exploring the Dot Product: Arithmetic and Magnitude of Vectors

    If you square the magnitude of a vector you get the dot product, correct? ||v||^2 = v . v Can you also say that ||v|| = sqrt(v . v)?
  50. B

    Basic geometry - dot product/cart. lines

    Homework Statement We consider two points, B and I and a line 'a'. B(0,-4,-7) I(-2,-2,-5) and a: x = y+1 = (z-2)/2 Determine the summits of A and C of triangle ABC knowing that: -Summit A belongs to the line 'a' -I is the foot of the height from A (perpendicular to BC) -The...
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