Vector Algebra: MATH23 Multivariable Calculus
Vector Algebra: MATH23 Multivariable Calculus
MATH23
MULTIVARIABLE CALCULUS
GENERAL OBJECTIVE
.
Direction Angles
In an xy-coordinate system, the direction of a
nonzero vector v is determined by the angles α and β
between v and the unit vectors i and j, and in an xyz-
coordinate system, the direction is determined by the
angles α, β, and γ between v and the unit vectors i, j, and k.
In both 2- space and 3-space, the angles between a
nonzero vector v and the vectors i , j, and k are called the
direction angles of v, and the cosines of those angles are
called the direction cosines of v.
The Dot (Scalar) Product
Direction Angles
v v
v1 , v2 , v3 1,0,0
v
v1
v
The Dot (Scalar) Product
v j v2
cos , cos-1
v v
v1 , v2 , v3 0,1,0
v
v2
v
vk v3
cos , cos -1
v v
v1 , v2 , v3 0,0,1
v
v3
v
Exercise Set 11.3
1. Find the dot product of the vectors and the cosine of
the angle between them.
b) u = <-7, 3>, v = <0, 1>
c) u = 1- 3j + 7k, v = 8i – 2j – 2k
2. a) Find u.v if ǁuǁ = 1, ǁvǁ = 2, the angle between u and v
is π/6.
3. Determine whether u and v make an acute angle, an
obtuse angle, or are orthogonal.
b) u = 6i +j + 3k, v = 4i – 6k
7. b) Use vectors to find the interior angles of the triangle
with vertices (-1, 0), (2, -1), and (1, 4).
Exercise Set 11.3
13. Find r so that the vector from the point
A (1, -1, 3) to the point B (3, 0, 5) is orthogonal
to the vector from A to the point P (r, r, r).
16. Find the direction cosines and direction
angles of a) v = 3i – 2j – 6. b) v = 3i – 4k.
The Cross (Vector) Product
Geometric interpretation
• Geometrically, the scalar triple product is the (signed) volume
of the parallelepiped defined by the three vectors given.
PROPERTIES OF SCALAR TRIPLE PRODUCT
• Note that if the scalar triple product is equal to zero, then the three
vectors a, b, and c are coplanar, since the "parallelepiped" defined by
them would be flat and have no volume
Exercise Set 11.4