Chapter 9: Problem 14
Find the component of \(\mathbf{u}\) along \(\mathbf{v}\) if a) \(\mathbf{u}=(0,7), \mathbf{v}=(6,8)\) b) \(\mathbf{u}=\left(\begin{array}{c}-\frac{1}{2} \\ 2\end{array}\right), \mathbf{v}=\left(\begin{array}{c}-2 \\ \frac{1}{2}\end{array}\right)\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The component of \( \mathbf{u} \) along \( \mathbf{v} \) is 5.6 for part (a) and \( \frac{4}{\sqrt{17}} \) for part (b).
Step by step solution
01
Calculate the dot product of \( \mathbf{u} \) and \( \mathbf{v} \) for part (a)
The dot product of two vectors \( \mathbf{u} = (u_1, u_2) \) and \( \mathbf{v} = (v_1, v_2) \) is given by \( \mathbf{u} \cdot \mathbf{v} = u_1v_1 + u_2v_2 \). For part (a), \( \mathbf{u} = (0, 7) \) and \( \mathbf{v} = (6, 8) \). Thus, the dot product is \( 0 \cdot 6 + 7 \cdot 8 = 56 \).
02
Calculate the magnitude of \( \mathbf{v} \) for part (a)
The magnitude of a vector \( \mathbf{v} = (v_1, v_2) \) is given by \( |\mathbf{v}| = \sqrt{v_1^2 + v_2^2} \). For part (a), \( \mathbf{v} = (6, 8) \). The magnitude is \( |\mathbf{v}| = \sqrt{6^2 + 8^2} = \sqrt{36 + 64} = \sqrt{100} = 10 \).
03
Compute the component of \( \mathbf{u} \) along \( \mathbf{v} \) for part (a)
The component of \( \mathbf{u} \) along \( \mathbf{v} \) is calculated as \( \frac{\mathbf{u} \cdot \mathbf{v}}{|\mathbf{v}|} \). From step 1, \( \mathbf{u} \cdot \mathbf{v} = 56 \). From step 2, \( |\mathbf{v}| = 10 \). Thus, the component is \( \frac{56}{10} = 5.6 \).
04
Calculate the dot product of \( \mathbf{u} \) and \( \mathbf{v} \) for part (b)
For part (b), \( \mathbf{u} = \left( -\frac{1}{2}, 2 \right) \) and \( \mathbf{v} = \left( -2, \frac{1}{2} \right) \). The dot product is \( -\frac{1}{2} \cdot (-2) + 2 \cdot \frac{1}{2} = 1 + 1 = 2 \).
05
Calculate the magnitude of \( \mathbf{v} \) for part (b)
Now, calculate the magnitude of \( \mathbf{v} = \left( -2, \frac{1}{2} \right) \). The magnitude is \( |\mathbf{v}| = \sqrt{(-2)^2 + \left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^2} = \sqrt{4 + \frac{1}{4}} = \sqrt{\frac{16}{4} + \frac{1}{4}} = \sqrt{\frac{17}{4}} = \frac{\sqrt{17}}{2} \).
06
Compute the component of \( \mathbf{u} \) along \( \mathbf{v} \) for part (b)
The component of \( \mathbf{u} \) along \( \mathbf{v} \) is \( \frac{\mathbf{u} \cdot \mathbf{v}}{|\mathbf{v}|} \). From step 4, \( \mathbf{u} \cdot \mathbf{v} = 2 \). From step 5, \( |\mathbf{v}| = \frac{\sqrt{17}}{2} \). Thus, the component is \( \frac{2}{\frac{\sqrt{17}}{2}} = \frac{4}{\sqrt{17}} \).
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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 way to multiply two vectors to obtain a scalar (a single number). This is particularly useful when working with vectors because it gives us a measure of how much one vector goes in the direction of another.
- To find the dot product of two vectors \( \mathbf{u} = (u_1, u_2) \) and \( \mathbf{v} = (v_1, v_2) \), you use the formula: \( \mathbf{u} \cdot \mathbf{v} = u_1 v_1 + u_2 v_2 \).
- This operation takes the corresponding components of the vectors, multiplies them together, and then sums the results.
Magnitude of a Vector
The magnitude of a vector is essentially its length. You can think of it as the distance from the origin to the point represented by the vector in the coordinate plane.
- The magnitude of a vector \( \mathbf{v} = (v_1, v_2) \) is calculated using the formula: \( |\mathbf{v}| = \sqrt{v_1^2 + v_2^2} \).
- This is derived from the Pythagorean theorem, where the vector components \( v_1 \) and \( v_2 \) form a right triangle with the vector as the hypotenuse.
Component of One Vector Along Another Vector
Finding the component of one vector along another gives us a measure of how much one vector "projects" onto another. This is useful in physics and engineering for decomposing forces and velocities.
- The component of vector \( \mathbf{u} \) along vector \( \mathbf{v} \) is found using the formula: \( \frac{\mathbf{u} \cdot \mathbf{v}}{|\mathbf{v}|} \).
- This formula uses the dot product, which gives a measure of alignment, and scales it by the magnitude of the vector onto which it is projecting.