Lesson 6b

VECTOR OPERATIONS
(VECTOR PROJECTIONS
AND DIRECTIONS
ANGLES/COSINES)
 VECTOR PROJECTIONS

DEFINITIONS OF PROJECTION AND VECTOR COMPONENTS

Let u and v be nonzero vectors. Moreover, let , where is
parallel to v and is orthogonal to v ,
1. is called the projection of u onto v or the vector component of u
along v, and is denoted by
2. is called the vector component of u orthogonal to v.
is obtuse
𝜃 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑐𝑢𝑡𝑒

𝑢 𝑤2
𝑢

𝜃 𝑤1 𝑣
v
𝑤1
VECTOR PROJECTIONS
DIRECTION ANGLES AND DIRECTION COSINES

DIRECTION ANGLES

.
 
 EXAMPLE 1

Find the orthogonal projection of on

and then find the vector component of orthogonal to

Solution:

.
 
 EXAMPLE 2
Find r so that the vector from the point A(1, -1, 3) to the point
B(4, 1, 6) is orthogonal to the vector from A to the point P( r, r,
r).

.
 
 EXAMPLE 3

5. If L is a line in 2 space or 3 space that passes through the points A and B

then the distance from a point P to the line L is equal to the length of the
component of the vector that is orthogonal to the vector.

Use the method above to find the distance from the point P(-3,1,2)
to the line through A(1,1,0) and B(-2,3,-4).

.
 
 EXERCISES

Given:
1.
2.
Find:
a.
b. the cosine of the angle between
c. the scalar component of in the direction of
d. the vector

3. Find the angles between the vectors:

a.
b.

4. Find the measures of the angles of the triangle whose

vertices are