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Finding Vector Dot Products

This document provides examples and practice problems on calculating the dot product of vectors and using it to find the angle between vectors. It introduces the scalar product as the multiplication of two vectors that results in a scalar value. Examples show calculating the dot product of vectors and using it to find the angle between the vectors in both 2D and 3D space. Practice problems have students calculating dot products and angles between vectors in various configurations.

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Abigail Victoria
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48 views5 pages

Finding Vector Dot Products

This document provides examples and practice problems on calculating the dot product of vectors and using it to find the angle between vectors. It introduces the scalar product as the multiplication of two vectors that results in a scalar value. Examples show calculating the dot product of vectors and using it to find the angle between the vectors in both 2D and 3D space. Practice problems have students calculating dot products and angles between vectors in various configurations.

Uploaded by

Abigail Victoria
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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IB Math SL Year 2

Name: ____________________________
Date: ______________
6-7 Dot Product
Today’s Goals: 1. What is the scalar product of two vectors? Where does it come from?

We often need to find the angle, 𝜃, between two vectors when solving problems. To do this, we need something called a
scalar product.

Scalar product – Multiplication of two vectors


– A scalar has _______________ but no ______________________

Go to your formula booklet:

Let’s Try it!


Example 1) Consider two vectors: m = 3i + 4j and n = 5i + 2j
a) Find m⋅n.

Can we find the angle between m and n?


b) Sketch vectors m and n from the origin.

c) Find the angle, to the nearest degree, between vectors m and n?


IB Math SL Year 2
Let’s try this in 3D…
2) If a = i +4j -2k and b = 2i +4j + 6k,

a) find a⋅b. b) Find the angle, in radians (3SF), between vectors a and b?

Individual Practice

1   6
1. Find the size of the angle between the two vectors   and   . Give your answer to the nearest degree.
 2 – 8

2. Find the angle between the following vectors a and b, giving your answer to the nearest degree.

a = –4i – 2j
b = i – 7j

3. A triangle has its vertices at A(–1, 3), B(3, 6) and C(–4, 4).

(a) Show that 𝑨𝑩 ⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑ = -9


⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑ ⋅ 𝑨𝑪

(b) Show that, to three significant figures, cos 𝐵𝐴̂C=-0.569


IB Math SL Year 2
4. Calculate the angle between each pair of vectors, giving your answer in radians.

3 −1
(a) ( ) and ( ) (b) 2i+2j-k and i- j + 3k
2 4

NO CALCULATOR FOR QUESTION #5!

5. The angle between vectors a and b is 𝜃. Find the exact value of cos 𝜃 in the following cases

i) a = 2i + 3j – k and b = i -2j + k ii) a = -2k and b = 4i


IB Math SL Year 2
Name: ____________________________
Date: ______________
6-6 Homework

 3   2
1. Find the cosine, in radians (3SF), of the angle between the two vectors   and   .
 4  1

2. Consider the vectors c = 3i + 4j and d = 5i – 12j. Calculate the scalar product c⋅d

 60   – 30 
3. (a) Find the scalar product of the vectors   and   .
 25   40 

(b) Two markers are at the points P (60, 25) and Q (–30, 40). A surveyor stands at O (0, 0) and looks at marker
P. Find the angle in radians she turns through to look at marker Q. Sketch the scenario.
IB Math SL Year 2
𝑎1 2
4. Find a1 such that vector a = ( 5 ) and b = (−1), and a⋅b = 7.
6 1

5. The angle between vectors a and b is 𝜃. Find the exact value of cos 𝜃 in the following cases
5 2
a) a=( 1 ) and a=(−1) b) a = 5i and b = 3j
−3 2

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