MATH 2161: Matrices and

Vector Analysis

Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif

Lecturer in Mathematics
Department of General Education
Canadian University of Bangladesh
Former Lecturer, World University of Bangladesh

Lesson 10 01
 Lecture Outline

Mathematical Problems on Dot and Cross Product

Angle Between Two Vectors

Resolution of Vectors

Projection of Vectors

MATH 2161 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 10 02

Solved Problems on Vector Multiplication
෠ B = 2𝑖Ƹ + 𝑗Ƹ − 𝑘෠ and C = 𝑖Ƹ − 2𝑗Ƹ + 2𝑘෠ then find (a) A × B × C and
Problem: If A = 3𝑖Ƹ − 𝑗Ƹ + 2𝑘,

(b) A × B × C . Also show that, A × B × C ≠ A × B × C .

𝑖Ƹ 𝑗Ƹ 𝑘෠ 𝑖Ƹ 𝑗Ƹ 𝑘෠
Solution: (a) Here, A × B = 𝐴1 𝐴2 𝐴3 = 3 −1 2
𝐵1 𝐵2 𝐵3 2 1 −1
= 𝑖Ƹ 1 − 2 − 𝑗Ƹ −3 − 4 + 𝑘෠ 3 − −2
= −𝑖Ƹ + 7𝑗Ƹ + 5𝑘෠

𝑖Ƹ 𝑗Ƹ 𝑘෠
Then, A × B × C = −1 7 5
1 −2 2
= 𝑖Ƹ 14 − −10 ෠ − 7)
− 𝑗Ƹ −2 − 5 + 𝑘(2
= 24𝑖Ƹ + 7𝑗Ƹ − 5𝑘෠
MATH 2161 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 10 03
Solved Problems on Vector Multiplication
𝑖Ƹ 𝑗Ƹ 𝑘෠
(b) Here, B×C= 2 1 −1
1 −2 2

= 𝑖Ƹ 2 − 2 − 𝑗Ƹ 4 − −1 + 𝑘෠ −4 − 1
= 0𝑖Ƹ − 5𝑗Ƹ − 5𝑘෠
= −5𝑗Ƹ − 5𝑘෠

𝑖Ƹ 𝑗Ƹ 𝑘෠
Then, A × B × C = 3 −1 2
0 −5 −5

= 𝑖Ƹ 5 − −10 − 𝑗Ƹ −15 − 0 + 𝑘෠ −15 + 0

= 15𝑖Ƹ + 15𝑗Ƹ − 15𝑘෠

Thus, A × B × C ≠ A × B × C . (Showed)

MATH 2161 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 10 04

Solved Problems on Vector Multiplication

If two vectors 𝑨 and 𝑩 are perpendicular then 𝑨 ∙ 𝑩 = 𝟎

Example: Determine the value of ‘𝑎’ so that A = 2𝑖Ƹ + 𝑎𝑗Ƹ + 𝑘෠ and B = 4𝑖Ƹ − 2𝑗Ƹ − 2𝑘෠ are perpendicular.

Solution: We know, If A and B are perpendicular then A ∙ B = 0.

Now, A ∙ B = 2𝑖Ƹ + 𝑎𝑗Ƹ + 𝑘෠ ∙ 4𝑖Ƹ − 2𝑗Ƹ − 2𝑘෠

= 8 − 2𝑎 − 2
= 6 − 2𝑎
Therefore, 6 − 2𝑎 = 0
⇒ 2𝑎 = 6
∴𝒂=𝟑

MATH 2161 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 10 05

Solved Problems on Vector Multiplication

If two vectors 𝑨 and 𝑩 are parallel then 𝑨 × 𝑩 = 𝟎

Example: Determine the value of ‘𝑚’ so that A = 2𝑖Ƹ + 𝑚𝑗Ƹ − 𝑘෠ and B = 6𝑖Ƹ + 6𝑗Ƹ − 3𝑘෠ are parallel.
Solution: We know, If A and B are parallel then A × B = 0.

𝑖Ƹ 𝑗 Ƹ 𝑘෠
Now, A × B = 2 𝑚 −1 = 𝑖Ƹ −3𝑚 − −6 − 𝑗Ƹ −6 − −6 + 𝑘෠ 12 − 6𝑚
6 6 −3
= 𝑖Ƹ −3𝑚 + 6 + 𝑘෠ 12 − 6𝑚
Therefore, 𝑖Ƹ −3𝑚 + 6 + 𝑘෠ 12 − 6𝑚 = 0
Equating coefficient of 𝑖Ƹ and 𝑘෠ from both sides, we get
−3𝑚 + 6 = 0 and 12 − 6𝑚 = 0
⇒ 𝑚 = 6Τ3 = 2 ⇒𝑚=2
∴𝒎=𝟐
MATH 2161 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 10 06
Solved Problems on Vector Multiplication
Amount of work done by an object is = 𝑭 ∙ 𝒓
where, 𝑭 is the force applied on the object and
𝒓 is the distance travelled by the particle or position vector

Example: Find the work done in moving an object from a vector A = 2𝑖Ƹ + 𝑗Ƹ + 6𝑘෠ to a vector
B = 5𝑖Ƹ + 3𝑗Ƹ + 𝑘෠ if the applied force is F = 2𝑖Ƹ − 𝑗Ƹ − 𝑘.
෠

Solution: Here, The distance travelled by the object is, rԦ = B − A

= 5𝑖Ƹ + 3𝑗Ƹ + 𝑘෠ − 2𝑖Ƹ + 𝑗Ƹ + 6𝑘෠

= 3𝑖Ƹ + 2𝑗Ƹ − 5𝑘෠
Hence, the work done by the object is = F ∙ rԦ
= 2𝑖Ƹ − 𝑗Ƹ − 𝑘෠ ∙ 3𝑖Ƹ + 2𝑗Ƹ − 5𝑘෠
=6−2+5
=9
MATH 2161 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 10 07
 Angle Between Two Vectors
If 𝜽 be the angle between two non-zero vectors 𝐀 and 𝐁 then we have
𝐀 ∙ 𝐁 = 𝐀 ∙ 𝐁 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽
𝐀∙𝐁
∴𝜽= 𝐜𝐨𝐬 −𝟏
𝐀 𝐁

Example: Find the angle between A = 2𝑖Ƹ + 2𝑗Ƹ − 𝑘෠ and B = 6𝑖Ƹ − 3𝑗Ƹ + 2𝑘.
෠

Solution: We know ,
A∙B B
𝜃= cos −1
A B
𝜃

Now, A ∙ B = 2𝑖Ƹ + 2𝑗Ƹ − 𝑘෠ ∙ (6𝑖Ƹ − 3𝑗Ƹ + 2𝑘)

෠
A
= 12 − 6 − 2
=4
MATH 2161 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 10 08
 Angle Between Two Vectors
Again, A = 22 + 22 + −1 2

= 9
=3

and B = 62 + −3 2 + 22

= 49
=7
A∙B
Hence, 𝜃 = cos −1
A B

4
= cos−1 3∙7
4
= cos−1 21

∴ 𝜽 = 𝟕𝟗°
MATH 2161 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 10 09
 Projection of Vectors
The vector projection of a vector 𝐀 on a non-zero vector 𝐁 is the orthogonal projection of 𝐀
onto a straight line parallel to 𝐁.
𝐀∙𝐁 𝐀∙𝐁
(1) Projection of 𝐀 on 𝐁 = (2) Projection of 𝐁 on 𝐀 =
𝐁 𝐀

Example: Find the projection of the vector A = 2𝑖Ƹ − 3𝑗Ƹ − 𝑘෠ on the vector B = 𝑖Ƹ − 4𝑗Ƹ + 3𝑘.
෠
A∙B
Solution: Projection of A on B =
B

2𝑖Ƹ − 3𝑗Ƹ − 𝑘෠ ∙ 𝑖Ƹ − 4𝑗Ƹ + 3𝑘෠

=
12 + −4 2 +32
2 + 12 − 3
=
26
11
=
26
MATH 2161 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 10 10
 Coplanar Vectors
If three vectors are coplanar then their scalar triple product is 𝟎.

Example: Show that the following vectors are coplanar.

෠
෠ B = 𝑖Ƹ + 3𝑗Ƹ + 4𝑘෠ and C = 4𝑖Ƹ − 2𝑗Ƹ − 6𝑘
A = 5𝑖Ƹ + 𝑗Ƹ − 2𝑘,
A1 A2 A3
Solution: If A, B and C are coplanar then A B C = 0 or B1 B2 B3 = 0.
C1 C2 C3
5 1 −2
Here, A B C = 1 3 4 = 5 −18 − −8 − 1 −6 − 16 − 2 −2 − 12
4 −2 −6
= −50 + 22 + 28

=0
Therefore, vectors A, B and C are coplanar.
MATH 2161 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 10 11
 Next Lecture

 Vector Calculus

 Vector Differentiation

 The Del Operator

 Gradient, Divergence and Curl

MATH 2161 Md. Kawsar Ahmed Asif Lesson 10 12