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Determine if vector u is orthogonal to vector v: u = – 6i + 2j and v = –5i + 8j .

1 Answer

4 votes
The two vectors u and v are orthogonal if and only if u dot v = 0

Let's say we had these general vectors
u = ai + bj
v = ci + dj

The dot product based on those general vectors above, is
u dot v = a*c + b*d

notice the corresponding coordinates multiply together, then you add up the products

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In this particular problem,
u = ai+bj
u = -6i + 2j
so a = -6 and b = 2

Also,
v = ci + dj
v = -5i+8j
making c = -5 and d = 8

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Let's compute the dot product of u and v

u dot v = a*c + b*d
u dot v = -6*(-5) + 2*8
u dot v = 30 + 16
u dot v = 46

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The dot product result is NOT equal to zero. So the two vectors are NOT orthogonal.
User Adelino
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