# Dot product of unit vectors

• I
TGV320
TL;DR Summary
Why cosθ？
HI,

I am studying linear algebra, and I just can't understand why "Unit vectors u and U at angle θ have u multiplied by U=cosθ

Why is it like that?

Thanks

Because that is the definition of dot product. It is the product of the lengths and the cos of the angle. If the vectors are unit, the lengths are both 1.

Homework Helper
@TGV320 : can you explain the question? To me it isn't clear what specifically you don't understand.

Do you have the same difficulty with projection of a vector on another ? with coponents in a coordinate system ?

##\ ##

For 2-d vectors ##a=(a_1,a_2),(b_1,b_2)##, dot product =##(a_1b_1+a_2b_2)##.. Work out trig. to get angle.

Mentor
For 2-d vectors ##a=(a_1,a_2),(b_1,b_2)##, dot product =##(a_1b_1+a_2b_2)##.. Work out trig. to get angle.
There are two definitions of the dot product for 2D vectors:
Coordinate definition, as you wrote.
Coordinate-free definition: ##\vec a \cdot \vec b = |\vec a||\vec b|\cos(\theta)##, where ##\theta## is the smaller of the angles between the two vectors.

Astronuc
There are two definitions of the dot product for 2D vectors:
Coordinate definition, as you wrote.
Coordinate-free definition: ##\vec a \cdot \vec b = |\vec a||\vec b|\cos(\theta)##, where ##\theta## is the smaller of the angles between the two vectors.
I prefer the first, since we don't know the angle.

malawi_glenn
Mentor
I prefer the first, since we don't know the angle.
Each definition has its uses. For example, if you know the value of the dot product, and the magnitudes of the vectors, but don't know the coordinates of the vectors, you can use the coordinate-free definition to calculate the angle.

With regard to unit vectors, the subject of this thread, if you know the value of their dot product, you calculate the angle between them.

I've seen many problems where the coordinate definition could not be used.

Last edited:
Astronuc