If θ is the angle between vectors

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on finding the limiting value of the angle θ between two vectors A = (1,1,...,1) and B = (1,2,...,n) as n approaches infinity. The user employs the formula A • B = ||A|| ||B|| cos θ, calculating the magnitudes of both vectors and their dot product. The limit of the cosine of the angle is expressed as cos θ = (√6 √(n + 1)) / (2 √(2n + 1)). The conclusion reached is that the limiting value of θ is π/6.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of vector operations, including dot product and magnitudes.
  • Familiarity with limits in calculus, particularly as n approaches infinity.
  • Knowledge of trigonometric functions, specifically the inverse cosine function.
  • Basic algebraic manipulation skills to simplify expressions.
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  • Study the properties of vector norms and dot products in linear algebra.
  • Learn about limits and continuity in calculus, focusing on techniques for evaluating limits at infinity.
  • Explore trigonometric identities and their applications in vector analysis.
  • Investigate the geometric interpretation of angles between vectors in higher dimensions.
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Okay, here's a cool question I'm just not able to get:

If θ is the angle between vectors A = (1,1,...,1) & B = (1,2,...,n) then find
the limiting value of θ when n → ∞, where n is the dimension of the space.

Okay, I am using A • B = ||A|| ||B|| cos θ.

Since A = (1,1,...,1) we have ||A|| = √n.

Since B = (1,2,...,n) we have ||B|| = [itex]\sqrt{ \frac{n(n \ + \ 1)(2n \ + \ 1)}{6}}[/itex]

It follows that A • B = [itex]\frac{n(n \ + \ 1)}{2}[/itex].

If I work with [itex]\frac{A \ \cdot \ B}{||A|| \ ||B||} \ = \ \frac{ \frac{n(n \ + \ 1)}{2}}{ \sqrt{n} \ \sqrt{ \frac{n(n \ + \ 1)(2n \ + \ 1)}{6}}}[/itex]

I can simplify to get

[itex]\frac{A \ \cdot \ B}{||A|| \ ||B||} \ = \ \frac{ \sqrt{6} \ \sqrt{n \ + \ 1}}{2 \ \sqrt{2n \ + \ 1}}[/itex]

and so

[itex]\theta \ = \ \lim_{n \to \infty} \ \cos^{-1} \ ( \frac{A \ \cdot \ B}{||A|| \ ||B||} \ ) \ = \ \ \lim_{n \to \infty} \ \cos^{-1} \ ( \frac{ \sqrt{6} \ \sqrt{n \ + \ 1}}{2 \ \sqrt{2n \ + \ 1}} \ )[/itex]

But this isn't any better, I don't know where to go from here.

The answer is pi/6 but I don't know how to get it! Any idea's?
 
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You're almost there!

What is the limit of

[itex]\frac{ \sqrt{6} \ \sqrt{n \ + \ 1}}{2 \ \sqrt{2n \ + \ 1}}[/itex]

as [itex]n\to\infty[/itex]?
 

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