Math Problem Statement

Find the angle between the vectors V<4, -3, 1> and W<3, 2, -6>

Solution

To find the angle θ\theta between two vectors V\mathbf{V} and W\mathbf{W}, we can use the dot product formula:

cosθ=VWVW\cos \theta = \frac{\mathbf{V} \cdot \mathbf{W}}{|\mathbf{V}| |\mathbf{W}|}

  1. Calculate the dot product VW\mathbf{V} \cdot \mathbf{W}:

VW=(4)(3)+(3)(2)+(1)(6)=1266=0\mathbf{V} \cdot \mathbf{W} = (4)(3) + (-3)(2) + (1)(-6) = 12 - 6 - 6 = 0

  1. Calculate the magnitudes of V\mathbf{V} and W\mathbf{W}:

V=42+(3)2+12=16+9+1=26|\mathbf{V}| = \sqrt{4^2 + (-3)^2 + 1^2} = \sqrt{16 + 9 + 1} = \sqrt{26}

W=32+22+(6)2=9+4+36=49=7|\mathbf{W}| = \sqrt{3^2 + 2^2 + (-6)^2} = \sqrt{9 + 4 + 36} = \sqrt{49} = 7

  1. Use the formula to find cosθ\cos \theta:

cosθ=026×7=0\cos \theta = \frac{0}{\sqrt{26} \times 7} = 0

  1. Determine the angle θ\theta:

θ=cos1(0)=90\theta = \cos^{-1}(0) = 90^\circ

So, the angle between the vectors V\mathbf{V} and W\mathbf{W} is 9090^\circ.

Would you like any more details or have any other questions?


Here are 5 related questions for further exploration:

  1. How do you calculate the dot product of two vectors?
  2. What does it mean when the dot product of two vectors is zero?
  3. How can you find the magnitude of a vector in three-dimensional space?
  4. What is the geometric interpretation of the angle between two vectors?
  5. How does the cross product differ from the dot product?

Tip: The dot product being zero indicates that the vectors are perpendicular to each other.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Vectors
Dot Product
Angle between vectors

Formulas

Dot product formula
Magnitude formula
Angle between vectors formula

Theorems

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Suitable Grade Level

High School