Dot Product - Multivariable Calculus

  1. Consider vectors p=⟨1,2,−1⟩\mathbf{p} = \langle 1, 2, -1 \rangle and q=⟨3,−1,2⟩\mathbf{q} = \langle 3, -1, 2 \rangle. If the angle between p\mathbf{p} and r\mathbf{r} is 60°60° and the angle between q\mathbf{q} and r\mathbf{r} is 120°120°, where ∣∣r∣∣=2||\mathbf{r}|| = 2, what is p⋅r+q⋅r\mathbf{p} \cdot \mathbf{r} + \mathbf{q} \cdot \mathbf{r}?
    Answer: 6−14\sqrt{6} - \sqrt{14} Using the dot product formula u⋅v=∣∣u∣∣∣∣v∣∣cos⁡θ\mathbf{u} \cdot \mathbf{v} = ||\mathbf{u}|| ||\mathbf{v}|| \cos \theta, we find: p⋅r=∣∣p∣∣∣∣r∣∣cos⁡60°=6⋅2⋅12=6\mathbf{p} \cdot \mathbf{r} = ||\mathbf{p}|| ||\mathbf{r}|| \cos 60° = \sqrt{6} \cdot 2 \cdot \frac{1}{2} = \sqrt{6} and q⋅r=∣∣q∣∣∣∣r∣∣cos⁡120°=14⋅2⋅(−12)=−14\mathbf{q} \cdot \mathbf{r} = ||\mathbf{q}|| ||\mathbf{r}|| \cos 120° = \sqrt{14} \cdot 2 \cdot (-\frac{1}{2}) = -\sqrt{14}. Therefore, p⋅r+q⋅r=6−14\mathbf{p} \cdot \mathbf{r} + \mathbf{q} \cdot \mathbf{r} = \sqrt{6} - \sqrt{14}. Here ∣∣p∣∣=1+4+1=6||\mathbf{p}|| = \sqrt{1 + 4 + 1} = \sqrt{6} and ∣∣q∣∣=9+1+4=14||\mathbf{q}|| = \sqrt{9 + 1 + 4} = \sqrt{14}. Option B incorrectly doubles both terms, C reverses the signs, and D both reverses signs and doubles.
  2. Two vectors u\mathbf{u} and v\mathbf{v} satisfy ∣∣u∣∣=3||\mathbf{u}|| = 3, ∣∣v∣∣=4||\mathbf{v}|| = 4, and ∣∣u+v∣∣=6||\mathbf{u} + \mathbf{v}|| = 6. What is the length of the projection of u−v\mathbf{u} - \mathbf{v} onto u+v\mathbf{u} + \mathbf{v}?
    Answer: 76\frac{7}{6} First, we find u⋅v\mathbf{u} \cdot \mathbf{v} using ∣∣u+v∣∣2=∣∣u∣∣2+∣∣v∣∣2+2u⋅v||\mathbf{u} + \mathbf{v}||^2 = ||\mathbf{u}||^2 + ||\mathbf{v}||^2 + 2\mathbf{u} \cdot \mathbf{v}. We have 36=9+16+2u⋅v36 = 9 + 16 + 2\mathbf{u} \cdot \mathbf{v}, so u⋅v=112\mathbf{u} \cdot \mathbf{v} = \frac{11}{2}. The projection length is ∣(u−v)⋅(u+v)∣∣∣u+v∣∣\frac{|(\mathbf{u} - \mathbf{v}) \cdot (\mathbf{u} + \mathbf{v})|}{||\mathbf{u} + \mathbf{v}||}. We compute (u−v)⋅(u+v)=∣∣u∣∣2−∣∣v∣∣2=9−16=−7(\mathbf{u} - \mathbf{v}) \cdot (\mathbf{u} + \mathbf{v}) = ||\mathbf{u}||^2 - ||\mathbf{v}||^2 = 9 - 16 = -7. Therefore, the projection length is ∣−7∣6=76\frac{|-7|}{6} = \frac{7}{6}. Option A uses the wrong dot product calculation, C and D incorrectly compute the denominator.

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