What is the dot product of <-4,5,-2><−4,5,−2> and <-2,4,1><−2,4,1>?

1 Answer
David G.
Feb 28, 2016

For two vectors < x_1, y_1, z_1 > <x1,y1,z1> and < x_2, y_2, z_2 > <x2,y2,z2>, the dot product is x_1x_2+y_1y_2+z_1z_2x1x2+y1y2+z1z2. In this case the dot product is 8+20-2 = 268+20−2=26. The dot product of two vectors is a scalar.

Explanation:

Just showing it in a little more detail:

< -4, 5, -2 > * <-2, 4, 1 > =((-4xx-2)+(5xx4)+(-2xx1))<−4,5,−2>⋅<−2,4,1>=((−4×−2)+(5×4)+(−2×1))
= 8+20-2 = 26=8+20−2=26

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