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Finding Vector Dot Products
Finding Vector Dot Products
Finding Vector Dot Products
Name: ____________________________
Date: ______________
6-7 Dot Product
Today’s Goals: 1. What is the scalar product of two vectors? Where does it come from?
We often need to find the angle, 𝜃, between two vectors when solving problems. To do this, we need something called a
scalar product.
a) find a⋅b. b) Find the angle, in radians (3SF), between vectors a and b?
Individual Practice
1 6
1. Find the size of the angle between the two vectors and . Give your answer to the nearest degree.
2 – 8
2. Find the angle between the following vectors a and b, giving your answer to the nearest degree.
a = –4i – 2j
b = i – 7j
3. A triangle has its vertices at A(–1, 3), B(3, 6) and C(–4, 4).
3 −1
(a) ( ) and ( ) (b) 2i+2j-k and i- j + 3k
2 4
5. The angle between vectors a and b is 𝜃. Find the exact value of cos 𝜃 in the following cases
3 2
1. Find the cosine, in radians (3SF), of the angle between the two vectors and .
4 1
2. Consider the vectors c = 3i + 4j and d = 5i – 12j. Calculate the scalar product c⋅d
60 – 30
3. (a) Find the scalar product of the vectors and .
25 40
(b) Two markers are at the points P (60, 25) and Q (–30, 40). A surveyor stands at O (0, 0) and looks at marker
P. Find the angle in radians she turns through to look at marker Q. Sketch the scenario.
IB Math SL Year 2
𝑎1 2
4. Find a1 such that vector a = ( 5 ) and b = (−1), and a⋅b = 7.
6 1
5. The angle between vectors a and b is 𝜃. Find the exact value of cos 𝜃 in the following cases
5 2
a) a=( 1 ) and a=(−1) b) a = 5i and b = 3j
−3 2