Chapter 12: Problem 17
Find the angle between the vectors. (First find an exact expression and then approximate to the nearest degree.) $$ \mathbf{a}=\langle 1,-4,1\rangle, \quad \mathbf{b}=\langle 0,2,-2\rangle $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The angle between the vectors is approximately 151 degrees.
Step by step solution
01
Compute the Dot Product
The dot product of two vectors \(\mathbf{a}\) and \(\mathbf{b}\) is calculated as \(\mathbf{a} \cdot \mathbf{b} = a_1b_1 + a_2b_2 + a_3b_3\). For vectors \(\mathbf{a} = \langle 1, -4, 1 \rangle\) and \(\mathbf{b} = \langle 0, 2, -2 \rangle\), compute:\[\mathbf{a} \cdot \mathbf{b} = (1)(0) + (-4)(2) + (1)(-2) = 0 - 8 - 2 = -10\]
02
Find the Magnitude of Each Vector
The magnitude of a vector \(\mathbf{v} = \langle v_1, v_2, v_3 \rangle\) is calculated by the formula \(\|\mathbf{v}\| = \sqrt{v_1^2 + v_2^2 + v_3^2}\).- For \(\mathbf{a} = \langle 1, -4, 1 \rangle\): \[ \|\mathbf{a}\| = \sqrt{1^2 + (-4)^2 + 1^2} = \sqrt{1 + 16 + 1} = \sqrt{18} \]- For \(\mathbf{b} = \langle 0, 2, -2 \rangle\): \[ \|\mathbf{b}\| = \sqrt{0^2 + 2^2 + (-2)^2} = \sqrt{0 + 4 + 4} = \sqrt{8} \]
03
Calculate the Cosine of the Angle
The formula for the cosine of the angle \(\theta\) between two vectors is given by:\[\cos \theta = \frac{\mathbf{a} \cdot \mathbf{b}}{\|\mathbf{a}\| \|\mathbf{b}\|}\]Substitute the values from Steps 1 and 2:\[\cos \theta = \frac{-10}{\sqrt{18} \times \sqrt{8}} = \frac{-10}{\sqrt{144}} = \frac{-10}{12} = -\frac{5}{6}\]
04
Find the Exact Angle in Radians
To find the angle \(\theta\), take the inverse cosine (arccos) of the cosine value:\[\theta = \cos^{-1}\left(-\frac{5}{6}\right)\]This gives the exact angle in radians.
05
Convert from Radians to Degrees
To convert the angle from radians to degrees, use the conversion factor: \(180^\circ/\pi\).Calculate:\[\theta_{degrees} = \cos^{-1}\left(-\frac{5}{6}\right) \times \frac{180}{\pi}\]Approximate this value to the nearest degree.
Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!
-
Full Textbook Solutions
Get detailed explanations and key concepts
-
Unlimited Al creation
Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...
-
Ads-free access
To over 500 millions flashcards
-
Money-back guarantee
We refund you if you fail your exam.
Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!
Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Dot Product
The dot product, also known as the scalar product, is a fundamental concept in vector algebra. It's a way of multiplying two vectors to obtain a scalar. For vectors \( \mathbf{a} \) and \( \mathbf{b} \), represented as \( \langle a_1, a_2, a_3 \rangle \) and \( \langle b_1, b_2, b_3 \rangle \) respectively, the dot product is calculated using the formula:
- \( \mathbf{a} \cdot \mathbf{b} = a_1b_1 + a_2b_2 + a_3b_3 \)
- \( \mathbf{a} \cdot \mathbf{b} = (1 \times 0) + (-4 \times 2) + (1 \times -2) = -10 \)
Magnitude of a Vector
The magnitude of a vector, often denoted as \( \| \mathbf{v} \| \), represents its length or size. This is calculated using a version of the Pythagorean theorem, which accounts for each component of the vector.
- For a vector \( \mathbf{v} = \langle v_1, v_2, v_3 \rangle \), its magnitude is \( \| \mathbf{v} \| = \sqrt{v_1^2 + v_2^2 + v_3^2} \).
- \( \| \mathbf{a} \| = \sqrt{1^2 + (-4)^2 + 1^2} = \sqrt{18} \)
- \( \| \mathbf{b} \| = \sqrt{0^2 + 2^2 + (-2)^2} = \sqrt{8} \)
Cosine of the Angle
To find the angle between two vectors, the cosine of the angle \( \theta \) is used. This relationship is a reflection of how closely the vectors align directionally.
- The formula to find \( \cos \theta \) is: \( \cos \theta = \frac{\mathbf{a} \cdot \mathbf{b}}{\| \mathbf{a} \| \| \mathbf{b} \|} \)
- \( \cos \theta = \frac{-10}{\sqrt{18} \times \sqrt{8}} = \frac{-10}{\sqrt{144}} = \frac{-10}{12} = -\frac{5}{6} \)
Inverse Cosine (Arccos)
The inverse cosine function, also known as arccos, is crucial for determining the actual angle from its cosine value. When we have a cosine value like \( -\frac{5}{6} \), the arccosine function helps us find the angle \( \theta \) for which this cosine value holds true.
- The formula is: \( \theta = \cos^{-1}\left(-\frac{5}{6}\right) \)
- Convert by multiplying the radian result with \( \frac{180}{\pi} \).