Orthogonal vectors mean they are at right angles (90 degrees) to each other. When two vectors are orthogonal, their dot product is zero, which is key. This property is used to find the component of a vector that doesn't align with another.
In our exercise, to find the vector component of \( \mathbf{u} \) orthogonal to \( \mathbf{a} \), we subtract the projection of \( \mathbf{u} \) onto \( \mathbf{a} \) from \( u \).
Here's how:
- Complete the projection calculation to find \( \text{proj}_{\mathbf{a}} \mathbf{u} = (0.2, -0.2, 0.1, -0.1) \)
- Subtract this from \( \mathbf{u} = (2, 1, 1, 2) \):
Subtract component-wise:
- \(2 - 0.2 = 1.8\)
- \(1 + 0.2 = 1.2\)
- \(1 - 0.1 = 0.9\)
- \(2 + 0.1 = 2.1\)
Thus, the orthogonal component of \( \mathbf{u} \) with respect to \( \mathbf{a} \) is \( (1.8, 1.2, 0.9, 2.1) \). This vector sits at a right angle to \( \mathbf{a} \).