Math Problem Statement
if you are given the magnitude of two vectors in a 3d space and the angle between them, how could you find the value of the dot product of those two vectors added and subtracted. so, if a and b are the vectors, how would you find (a+b) * (a-2b)? solve using the magnitude 1 for a and 3 for b. the angle between the vectors is pi/3 radians. answers should be in exact form
Solution
To solve the problem, we need to find the dot product given the magnitudes of vectors and and the angle between them.
Step-by-Step Solution
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Given Information:
- Magnitude of vector :
- Magnitude of vector :
- Angle between and :
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Dot Product Formula: The dot product of two vectors and is given by:
Substituting the given values:
We know that , so:
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Dot Product of and : Expand the expression using the distributive property of dot products:
Since the dot product is commutative (), we can simplify this to:
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Substitute Magnitudes and Dot Product:
Plugging in these values:
Simplify the equation:
Combine the terms:
Final Answer
The exact value of the dot product is .
Additional Questions
- How would the solution change if the angle between the vectors was different?
- Can this method be extended to vectors in higher dimensions?
- What is the geometric interpretation of the result in terms of the vectors?
- How does the magnitude of vectors affect the dot product calculation?
- What would the cross product of and look like?
Tip: Always remember to apply the distributive property carefully when expanding vector expressions, and verify that all components are correctly accounted for.
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Vectors
Dot Product
Trigonometry
Formulas
Dot product formula: \( \mathbf{a} \cdot \mathbf{b} = |\mathbf{a}| |\mathbf{b}| \cos(\theta) \)
Theorems
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Suitable Grade Level
Advanced High School
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