Help with linear questions. Got wrong on test and correcting them

  • Thread starter Thread starter olliebear
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Linear Test
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around linear algebra concepts, specifically focusing on vector operations, scalar triple products, angles between vectors, and properties of lines in three-dimensional space. Participants are addressing problems related to vector calculations and their geometric interpretations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants attempt to compute the scalar triple product of three vectors and question the implications of the result. They explore the geometric meaning of the scalar triple product being zero and discuss linear dependence of vectors. Other problems involve finding angles between vectors, vector equations of lines, and properties of skew lines.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided attempts at calculations and interpretations, while others have raised questions about the implications of their results. There is an ongoing exploration of the relationships between the vectors and the geometric interpretations of their properties, with no explicit consensus reached.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of a homework assignment, aiming to understand their mistakes from a recent test and prepare for an upcoming final exam. The discussion includes attempts to clarify definitions and assumptions related to vector operations.

olliebear
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Here are some questions that I received on my test. I got most of these wrong but I got a couple points here and there. Here are the questions I had trouble with. At the bottom on the questions I tried to solve them but I'm not sure if i did them correctly. Please try and help me because I have a final coming up this week and I want to learn how to solve these questions.

1. Consider the three vectors u=(4,-1,-5) , v=(1,-4,1) and w= (1,1,-2)
a) compute the scalar triple product of u,v,w.
my attempt:
u * (v X w)
4 -1 -5
1 -4 1
1 1 -2

=4(7) + 1(-3) -5(5)
= |0|
=0

b) What can you deduce about the vectors u,v,w, supposing they have the same initial point?
my attempt: That the answer would be different because it would be multiplying with different multiples…?

2. Considers the points A(1,0,1) B(1,2,3) C(-1,0,2)
a) find the angle between the vectors AB and AC
my attempt:
cos=AB*AC/||AB|| ||AC||
=2/(8)^1/2 (5)^1/2
= 0.3162
=cos-1(0.3162)
=71.56

b) Find a vector equation of the line through A and B
my attempt:
A=(1,0,1)
B= (1,2,3
?

3. Considers the L1(line 1) with symmetric equation (x-1)/-1 = (y+2)/2 =z/3
and the L2(line 2) parallel to v2=(1,0,-1) and throughout the point P2(0,1,0)

a) Find the direction vector v1 for the line L1 and give a point P1 on L1
my attempt:
p1 (1,1, 1/3)
v1 (1,1,1)

b) Find a parametric equation of the line L2
my attempt:
v2= (1,0,-1)
P2= (0,1,0)
L2 should equal {t, 1, -1}

c) show that the lines L1 and L2 are skew lines
my attempt:
|x1x2 * (V1 X V2)| \ ||V1 X V2||

=(0,1,0) * ( -1, -2, -1) / 6^1/2
= -2/6^1/2 d) Find a unit vector u orthogonal to both v1 and v2
my attempt:
v1 (1,1,1)
v2 (1,0, -1)
v3 ( , , )
v1 X v2
1 1 1
1 0 -1
u=( -1,0,-1)

e) find the orthogonal projection P1P2 on u
(p1p2 * u/ ||u|| ) u
=(-2/2^1/2, 0, -2/2^1/2)

f) deduce the distance d=||Proju P1P || between the lines L1 and L24. If u and v are vector in n-space, Simplify: ( u+v) * (u-v)
my attempt:
=uu –uv + uv - vv
=||u||^2 - ||v||^2

b) use your previous result to show that the parallelogram defined by u and v is a rhombus if and only if its diagonals are perpendicular.
A rhombus has 4 sides that are equal and this would prove it.
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
olliebear said:
1. Consider the three vectors u=(4,-1,-5) , v=(1,-4,1) and w= (1,1,-2)
a) compute the scalar triple product of u,v,w.
my attempt:
u * (v X w)
4 -1 -5
1 -4 1
1 1 -2

=4(7) + 1(-3) -5(5)
= |0|
=0

b) What can you deduce about the vectors u,v,w, supposing they have the same initial point?
my attempt: That the answer would be different because it would be multiplying with different multiples…?
Geometrically, the scalar triple product is the (signed) volume of the parallelepiped defined by the three given vectors. If the volume of this parallelepiped is zero, then...?
 
it means that the parallelepiped is planar and has no volume. This means that the given three vectors are linearly dependent?
 
olliebear said:
it means that the parallelepiped is planar and has no volume. This means that the given three vectors are linearly dependent?

Yes.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K