What does the notation compab mean in vectors?

[sdoyle]

Homework Statement

The question is asking for us to compute comp_ab

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

Is it another notation for projection?

 

[Enjoicube]

This stands for the scalar projection I believe, or the magnitude of the vector b in the direction of a. Thus a simple formula for it is (a*b)/|a|.
http://www.math.oregonstate.edu/hom...usQuestStudyGuides/vcalc/dotprod/dotprod.html