How do you find the angle between the vectors u=2i-3ju=2i3j and v=8i+3jv=8i+3j?

1 Answer
Oct 18, 2016

76.9^o76.9o

Explanation:

Starting from the saclar (dot) product

the definition:

vec a .vec b=|a||b|costhetaa.b=|a||b|cosθ-------(1)
where thetaθ is the angle between vecaa &vecbb

Also to evaluate the scalar product using components we have the result:

veca=x_"1"veci+y_"1"vecja=x1i+y1j

vecb=x_"2"veci+y_"2"vecjb=x2i+y2j

vec a .vec b=x_"1"x_"2"+y_1"a.b=x1x2+y1y_"2"y2------(2)

so for

vecu=2veci-3vecju=2i3j & vecv=8veci+3vecjv=8i+3j

using result (2)

vecu.vecv=(2xx8)+((-3)xx3)u.v=(2×8)+((3)×3)

vecu.vecv=16-9=7u.v=169=7

Now we use the definition (1)

vecu.vecv=|u||v|costhetau.v=|u||v|cosθ

so, 7=sqrt(2^2+3^2)xxsqrt(8^2+3^2)xxcostheta7=22+32×82+32×cosθ

#

7=sqrt13xxsqrt73xxcostheta7=13×73×cosθ

theta=cos^-1(7/(sqrt13sqrt73))θ=cos1(71373)

theta=76.9^oθ=76.9o