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Dot product

Definition

$$\vec u=(u_1,u_2,u_3),\qquad \vec v=(v_1,v_2,v_3).$$

Formula

$$\boxed{\vec u\cdot\vec v=u_1v_1+u_2v_2+u_3v_3}$$

Example

$$\vec u\cdot\vec v=(2)(1)+(-1)(4)+(3)(-2)=2-4-6=-8.$$

Geometric interpretation

$$\boxed{\vec u\cdot\vec v=\|\vec u\|\,\|\vec v\|\cos\theta}$$

$$\cos\theta=\frac{\vec u\cdot\vec v}{\|\vec u\|\,\|\vec v\|}.$$

Important properties

Practice activity

Practice: Dot product

Instructions:

📌 Random exercise
Step 0 of 5

See also

Cross product