How do you find two unit vectors orthogonal to A=(1, 3, 0) B =(2, 0, 5) first vector must have positive first coordinate?

1 Answer
Jul 1, 2016

#+-(1/sqrt 286)(15, -5, -6)#

Explanation:

Let C(a, b, c) be a vector orthogonal to A(1, 3, 0) and B(2, 0, 5).

Then, #A.C=0=B.C#.

So, a+3b=0 and 2a+5b=0. Eliminating b and c,

C becomes #(a, -a/3, -2a/5)=a(1, -1/3, -2/5)#

So, the unit vectors in opposite directions that are orthogonal to A

and B are

#+-(1/sqrt(1^2+(1/3)^2+(2/5)^2))(1, -1/3, -2/5)#

#= +-(1/sqrt 286)(15, -5, -6)#