Chapter 5: Problem 36
Find a unit vector orthogonal to both u and v. $$\begin{aligned} &\mathbf{u}=(2,-1,3)\\\ &\mathbf{v}=(1,0,-2) \end{aligned}$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The unit vector orthogonal to both vector \( \mathbf{u} \) and \( \mathbf{v} \) is \( \mathbf{u_{w}} \)
Step by step solution
01
Calculate Cross Product
Calculate the cross product of the two vectors with the formula \( \mathbf{w} = \mathbf{u} \times \mathbf{v} \), thereby using the coordinates from vector \( \mathbf{u} = (2,-1,3) \) and vector \( \mathbf{v} = (1,0,-2) \)
02
Normalization factor
Calculate the normalization factor (magnitude of the cross product vector), denoted N, with the formula \( N = \sqrt{w_{1}^2 + w_{2}^2 + w_{3}^2}\), where \(w_{1}, w_{2}, w_{3}\) are the components of the cross product vector.
03
Compute the Unit Vector
Divide the cross product vector \( \mathbf{w} \) by the normalization factor N, obtaining the unit vector \( \mathbf{u_{w}} = \frac{1}{N} \mathbf{w} \)
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Cross Product
The cross product is a vector operation used in three-dimensional space, often denoted by the symbol \( \times \). It involves two vectors and results in a third vector that is orthogonal, or perpendicular, to both of the original vectors. For vectors \( \mathbf{u} = (2, -1, 3) \) and \( \mathbf{v} = (1, 0, -2) \), the cross product \( \mathbf{w} = \mathbf{u} \times \mathbf{v} \) can be calculated.
- To find the cross product, set up a 3x3 matrix with the top row as the unit vectors \( \mathbf{i}, \mathbf{j}, \mathbf{k} \), the second row as the components of \( \mathbf{u} \), and the third row as the components of \( \mathbf{v} \).
- The cross product formula involves applying the determinant of this matrix, which results in \( \mathbf{w} = ((-1)(-2) - (3)(0), (3)(1) - (2)(-2), (2)(0) - (-1)(1)) \).
- Simplifying this gives us the vector \( \mathbf{w} = (2, 7, 1) \).
Orthogonal Vectors
Orthogonal vectors are two vectors that meet at a right angle. They are characterized by having a dot product of zero. When working with vectors like \( \mathbf{u} \) and \( \mathbf{v} \), finding a vector orthogonal to both involves using the cross product.
- Two vectors \( \mathbf{a} \) and \( \mathbf{b} \) are orthogonal if \( \mathbf{a} \cdot \mathbf{b} = 0 \).
- The cross product vector, \( \mathbf{w} = \mathbf{u} \times \mathbf{v} \), is naturally orthogonal to both \( \mathbf{u} \) and \( \mathbf{v} \).
- This property makes it useful in constructing perpendicular dimensions or directions, like in 3D modeling and geometry.
Normalization
Normalization refers to the process of converting a vector into a unit vector, which means it has a magnitude of 1.
- The magnitude of a vector \( \mathbf{w} = (w_{1}, w_{2}, w_{3}) \) is calculated using the formula: \( N = \sqrt{w_{1}^2 + w_{2}^2 + w_{3}^2} \).
- Once you have the magnitude, you divide each component of the vector \( \mathbf{w} \) by this magnitude \( N \) to get the unit vector \( \mathbf{u_{w}} = \frac{1}{N} \mathbf{w} \).
- For our cross product vector \( \mathbf{w} = (2, 7, 1) \), calculating the magnitude gives \( N = \sqrt{2^2 + 7^2 + 1^2} = \sqrt{54} \).
- Then, normalize \( \mathbf{w} \) to get the unit vector: \( \left( \frac{2}{\sqrt{54}}, \frac{7}{\sqrt{54}}, \frac{1}{\sqrt{54}} \right) \).
Linear Algebra
Linear Algebra is the branch of mathematics that deals with vectors, vector spaces, and linear transformations. It provides several tools to work with multi-dimensional datasets, which is essential in today's data-driven world.
- It covers fundamental operations with vectors and matricies, crucial for scientific computations.
- Understanding concepts like vector spaces, eigenvectors, and eigenvalues can help solve complex systems of equations.
- Operations such as the cross product allow us to determine perpendicular vectors, a cornerstone in 3D space calculations.
- Linear algebra concepts are widely applicable, from computer graphics, computational physics to machine learning and more.