Dot & Cross product of vectors

What is dot
product?

o The dot product of two vectors A and

B is defined as the scalar value AB
cosθ, where θ is the angle between
them such that 0≤θ≤π.
 What is dot
product?

o It is denoted by A.B by placing a dot

sign between the vectors.
o So we have the equation,
A.B = AB cosθ

o Another name of dot product is scalar

product.
 What is cross
product?

o The cross product of two vectors A

and B is defined as AB sinθ with a
direction perpendicular to A and B in
right hand system, where θ is the
angle between them such that
0≤θ≤π.
 What is cross
product?

o It is denoted by A x B by placing a
cross sign between the vectors.
o So we have the equation,
A x B = AB sinθη = C

o Another name of dot product is

vector product.
 History of dot
product:
Dot product was founded in 1901 in Vector Analysis by Edwin
Bidwell Wilson:

“ The direct product is denoted by writing the two

vectors with a dot between them as A.B ”

“ This is read A dot B and therefore may often be

called the dot product instead of the direct product ”
 History of cross
product:
o The first traceable work on ”cross product” was
founded in the book Vector Analysis.

o It was founded upon the lectures of Josiah

Willard Gibbs, second edition by Edwin Bidwell
Wilson published in 1909.
 History of cross
product:
o On page 61, the mention of cross product was found
for the first time.

“ The skew product is denoted by a cross as the

direct product was by a dot. It is written C = A x B
and read A cross B. For this reason it is often called
the cross product ” – Vector Analysis
Developing to
present:

While studying vector analysis, Gibbs noted that the

product of quaternions always had to be separated
into two parts:

1. One dimensional quantity

2. A three dimensional vector
Developing to
present:

To avoid this complexity he proposed defining

distinct dot and cross products for pair of vectors
and introduced the now common notation for
them.
Confusion about
representation:
Dot product :
Tait : Sαβ =Sβα
Gibbs : α.β = β.α
Cross product :
Tait : Vαβ = –Vβα
Gibbs : α x β = –β x α
To avoid this representation complexity, Gibbs’ notation
is used universally.
 Illustration of dot
product:

o Why Dot Product?

- To express the angular relationship between

two vectors.
Illustration of dot
product:

If A and B are two vectors of form,

A = A1i + A2j +A3k
B = B1i + B2j + B3k
Then the dot product
of A and B is,
A.B = A1B1 + A2B2
+ A3 B 3
Illustration of dot
product:

The angular relationship of two vectors A and B

as per dot product is:

A.B = A B cosθ

= AB cosθ
Illustration of dot
product:

The dot relationship of unit vectors along three

axes :

i.j=j.k=k.i=0
and i . i = j . j = k . k = 1
 Illustration of cross
product:

o Why Cross Product?

- For accumulation of interactions between

different dimensions.
Illustration of cross
product:
If A and B are two vectors of form
A = A1i + A2j +A3k
B = B1i + B2j + B3k
Then the cross Product
of A and B is, i j k
AxB = A1 A2 A3
B1 B2
Illustration of cross
product:

The angular relationship of two vectors A and B

is

A x B = A B sinθ

= AB sinθ
Illustration of cross
product:

The cross relationship of unit vectors along three

axes are:
ixi=jxj=kxk=0
ixj=k & j x i = -k
jxk=i & k x j = -i
kxi=j & i x k = -j
 Dot product vs cross
product:
Dot product
Result of a dot product is a scalar
quantity.
It follows commutative law.
Dot product of vectors in the same
direction is maximum.
Dot product of orthogonal vectors is
zero.
It doesn’t follow right hand system.
It is used to find projection of vectors.
It is represented by a dot (.)
Cross product
Result of a cross product is a vector
quantity.
It doesn’t follow commutative law.
Cross product of vectors in same
direction is zero.
Cross product of orthogonal vectors is
maximum.
It follows right hand system.
It is used to find a third vector.
It is represented by a cross (x)
Properties of dot
product:

☻ Commutative A.B = B.A

law: A.(B+C) = A.B+A.C
☻ Distributive law: m(A.B) = (mA).B = A.(mB)
☻ Associative law:
Properties of cross
product:

☻ Distributive A x (B+C) = A x B+A x C

law: m(A x B) = (mA) x B = A x (mB)
☻ Associative law:
 Distinction in commutative law:

A x B = C has a magnitude ABsin and AxB=C

direction is such that A, B and C form a right
handed system (from fig-a ) θ

A B
Fig - (a)
 Distinction in commutative law:

B x A = D has magnitude BAsin and

direction such that B, A and D form
a right handed system ( from fig -b ) A B
BxA=
D

Fig - (b)
Distinction in commutative law:

Then D has the same magnitude as C but is opposite

in direction,
that is, C = -
D AxB=-B
xA
Therefore the commutative law for cross product is
not valid.
 Applications of dot
product:

❶ Finding angle between two vectors:

B
A.B = |A||B| cos

A.B
AB 
cos =
A
AAB
.B
= cos−1( )
❷ Projections of light:
Light source

From the figure, ON

cos = B
ON = B
B
cos
As we know,
cos = AAB
.B

AA.B 
B cos =
So we reach to, A.
O N A
BA
ON =
Real life applications of dot
product:

o Calculating total cost

o Electromagnetism, from which we get
light, electricity, computers etc.
o Gives the combined effect of the coordinates in
different dimensions on each other.
 Applications of cross
product:

❶ To find the area of a parallelogram: C

B

Area of parallelogram = h |B| h

= |A| sinθ |B| 

O
=|AxB| A
 Applications of cross
product:

❷ To find the area of a triangle:

B

1 h
Area of triangle = h |B|
2

1
= |A| sinθ |B| O
2 A
1
= |AxB|
2
Real life applications of cross
product:

o Finding moment
o Finding torque
o Rowing a boat
o Finding the most effective path
 Dot and cross vector
together:
Dot and cross products of three vectors A , B and C may
produce meaningful products of the form (A.B)C, A.
(BxC) and Ax(BxC) then phenomenon is called triple
product. A1 A2 A3
A.(B x C) B1 B2 B3
=
C1 C2 C3
 Application of triple
product:

Volume of the parallelepiped

= (height h) x (area of the parallelogram I)

A
= (A.n) x (| B x C |)
h
= A. (| B x C | n) C n
I
= A. ( B x C ) B
 Memory booster:

 Area of a triangle of vectors is determined by which

vector product method?
A. Dot B. Cross
 Memory booster:

 Area of a triangle of vectors is determined by which

vector product method?
A. Dot B. Cross
 Memory booster:

 Area of a triangle of vectors is determined by which

vector product method?
A. Dot B. Cross
 Projection of vectors is determined by which
vector product method?
A. Cross B. Dot
 Memory booster:

 Area of a triangle of vectors is determined by which

vector product method?
A. Dot B. Cross
 Projection of vectors is determined by which
vector product method?
A. Cross B. Dot
Thank you