# [Dot Product] Vector Proection

[Dot Product] Vector Projection

## The Attempt at a Solution

I am not sure what to do here -- I know that the projection of u onto a "dotted" with w = 0 by definition, but I don't know how to show this.

added this second part after plugging in for the definition of the projection we derived in class, then simplified. . .

Last edited:

anyone?

I like Serena
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Hi Highway!

You have an expression for the projection.
Can you substitute that (and only that) in the formula you have for w?

To show that 2 vectors are orthogonal, you need to show that their dot product is zero. That is, that $\vec a \cdot \vec w = 0$.

What you need to know, is that there are calculation rules for dot products.
For instance $\vec a \cdot (\vec b+\vec c) = \vec a \cdot \vec b + \vec a \cdot \vec c$.

Can you simplify the expression for $\vec a \cdot \vec w = 0$?

Hi Highway!

You have an expression for the projection.
Can you substitute that (and only that) in the formula you have for w?

To show that 2 vectors are orthogonal, you need to show that their dot product is zero. That is, that $\vec a \cdot \vec w = 0$.

What you need to know, is that there are calculation rules for dot products.
For instance $\vec a \cdot (\vec b+\vec c) = \vec a \cdot \vec b + \vec a \cdot \vec c$.

Can you simplify the expression for $\vec a \cdot \vec w = 0$?

Thanks!! I got it figured out :P

I like Serena
Homework Helper
Congrats!