Angie Between Two Vectobrs

The angle between the nonzero vectors u = (x1, y1) and v = (X2, y2) Is the
angle 6,0 0 < 7 , shown in Figure 4.22. Applying the law ofcosines tothe
triangle in that figure, we obtain

llu v | = ||u||+|lvll -2||u||lv|cos. (6)

9
From (2),.

liu-vIl= (- *2) + (y1 y2)

Figure 4.22 A
= x+* +yf+--2(a1x2 +yiy2)
=
|lu||+|v-2(x1X2 +y1y2).
If we substitute this expression in (6) and solve for cos 0 (recall that since u
and v are nonzero vectors, then |u|l # 0 and
||v|| # 0), we obtain
cos 412y
(7)
lulllvl
Recall from the first part of Section 1.3 that the dot
product of the vectors
u = (X1. y1) and v = (x2,
y2) is defined to be

u V
XX2 + y1y2
Thus we can rewrite (7) as

Cos = (0e T). (8)

lulv
 EAMPLE 14 Ifu =
(2, 4) and v (-1, 2), then
=

u V= (2)(-1) + (4)(2) = 6.

Also,
llu||= V22 +42 = V20
and

lvll=V-1)2+ 22 = 5.
Hence
6
COS 6 = = 0.6.
20 5
calculator or a table of cosines,
w Can obtain the approximate angle by using a
we find that 6 is approximately 53°8' or 0.93 radian.

lfu is a vector in R2, then we can use the definition of dot product to write

llul|=u.u.
0 IT the nonzero vectors u and v are at right angles (Figure 4.23), then the
cOsine of the angle 6 between them is zero. Hence, from (8), we have u V

0. Conversely, if u-v =0, then cos = 0 and the vectors are at right angles.
Thus the nonzero vectors u and v are perpendicular or orthogonal if and only

ifu v 0. We shall also say that two vectors are orthogonal if at least one of
them is zero. Thus, we can now say that two vectors u and v are orthogonal if
Figure 4.23 A
Orthogonal vectors and only ifu v
=0.
orthogonal, since
EXAMPLE 15 The vectors u =
(2, -4) and v =
(4, 2) are

(2)(4) +(-4)(2) = 0
u v=

(See Figure 4.24).

Figure 4.24
Orthogonal vectors

(4. 2)

-4
(2,-4)