Unit 5- Cartesian Vectors

Lesson Package
MCV4U
 Unit 5 Outline
Unit Goal: By the end of this unit, you will be able to demonstrate an understanding of vectors in two-space
by representing them geometrically and by recognizing their applications.

Curriculum
Section Subject Learning Goals
Expectations

- Represent a vector in two-space in Cartesian form

- Perform operations of addition, subtraction, and scalar C1.3, C2.1,
L1 Cartesian Vectors
multiplication on vectors represented in Cartesian form C2.2, C2.3

- find the dot product of two vectors in geometric and Cartesian

L2 Dot Product C2.4, C2.5
form
Applications of Dot - solve problems involving the dot product of two vectors including
L3 C2.8
Product work and projections.
- Recognize that vectors in 3-space can be represented using
L4 Vectors in 3-Space Cartesian coordinates [𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧] C1.4
- Perform vector operations with vectors in 3-space
- find the cross product of two vectors in geometric and Cartesian
L5 Cross Product form. C2.6, C2.7

- Solve problems involving dot and cross product including the

Applications of Dot
L6 triple scalar product C2.8
and Cross Product

Assessments F/A/O Ministry Code P/O/C KTAC

Note Completion A P
Practice Worksheet
F/A P
Completion
Quiz – Dot and Cross Product F P
PreTest Review F/A P
Test – Cartesian Vectors C1.3, C1.4, C2.1, C2.2, C2.3, K(25%), T(25%), A(25%),
O P
C2.4, C2.5, C2.6, C2.7, C2.8 C(25%)
L1 – Cartesian Vectors Unit 5
MCV4U
Jensen

Mathematicians started using coordinates to analyze physical situations in about the fourteenth century.
However, a great deal of the credit for developing the methods used with coordinate systems should be given
to the French mathematician Rene Descartes (1596-1650). Descartes was the first to realize that using a
coordinate system would allow for the use of algebra in geometry. Since then, this idea has become important
in the development of mathematical ideas in many areas. For our purposes, using algebra in this way leads us
to the consideration of ideas involving vectors that otherwise would not be possible.

Part 1: What are Cartesian (algebraic) Vectors?

Suppose 𝑢⃗ is any vector with endpoints Q and R. We identify ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

𝑄𝑅 as a
Cartesian vector because its endpoints can be defined using Cartesian
coordinates.

If we translate 𝑢
⃗ so that its tail is at the origin, O, then its head will be at
some point 𝑃(𝑎, 𝑏). Then we define this Cartesian vector as position vector
[𝑎, 𝑏].

Note: Use square brackets to distinguish between a point (𝑎, 𝑏) and a

position vector [𝑎, 𝑏]

Part 2: Resolving Cartesian Vectors in to Unit Vectors

A second way of writing ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

𝑂𝑃 = [𝑎, 𝑏] is with the use of unit vectors
𝑖 and 𝑗.

𝑖 = [1, 0] and 𝑗 = [0, 1]

Both of these vectors have magnitude of 1 and lie along the

positive 𝑥 and 𝑦 axes respectively.
In the diagram, ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑂𝐴 = [𝑎, 0] = 𝑎𝑖

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑂𝐵 = [0, 𝑏] = 𝑏𝑗

Therefore, using the triangle law of addition, ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

𝑂𝑃 = ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑂𝐴 + ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑂𝐵 = 𝑎𝑖 + 𝑏𝑗

It follows that [𝑎, 𝑏] = 𝑎𝑖 + 𝑏𝑗

Representations of Vectors in 𝑹𝟐

The position vector ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

𝑂𝑃 can be represented as either ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑂𝑃 = [𝑎, 𝑏] or ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑂𝑃 = 𝑎𝑖 + 𝑏𝑗 where 𝑂(0,0) is the origin
and 𝑃(𝑎, 𝑏) is any point on the plane.
Example 1: Practice representing vectors in two equivalent forms.

a) Four position vectors, 𝑂𝑃⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = [1,2], 𝑂𝑄

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = [−3,0],
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = [−4, −1], and ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑂𝑅 𝑂𝑆 = [2, −1] are shown. Write each of
these vectors using the unit vectors 𝑖 and 𝑗.

b) The vectors ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

𝑂𝐴 = −𝑖, ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑂𝐵 = 𝑖 + 5𝑗, and ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑂𝐶 = −5𝑖 + 2𝑗 have been written using the unit vectors 𝑖 and 𝑗.
Write them in component form [𝑎, 𝑏].

Part 3: Magnitude of Vectors

Any Cartesian vector 𝑣 = [𝑣𝑥 , 𝑣𝑦 ] can be translated so its tail is at

y
the origin, (0, 0), and its head is at the point (𝑣𝑥 , 𝑣𝑦 ). To find the
magnitude of the vector, use the formula for the distance between
two points:

2
|𝑣 | = √(𝑣𝑥 − 0)2 + (𝑣𝑦 − 0) vy (vx, vy)
v
2
|𝑣 | = √(𝑣𝑥 )2 + (𝑣𝑦 )
vx x

Example 2: Find the magnitude of vector 𝑣 = [7, 4]

v
 y
Part 4: Adding and Subtracting Vectors

Rule: 𝑣 + 𝑢
⃗ = [𝑣𝑥 + 𝑢𝑥 , 𝑣𝑦 + 𝑢𝑦 ]

Example 3: If 𝑣 = [7, 4] and 𝑢

⃗ = [2, 6]. Find 𝑣 + 𝑢
⃗. u +v
u
u

y
Rule: 𝑣 − 𝑢
⃗ = [𝑣𝑥 − 𝑢𝑥 , 𝑣𝑦 − 𝑢𝑦 ]

Example 4: If 𝑣 = [7, 4] and 𝑢

⃗ = [2, 6]. Find 𝑣 − 𝑢
⃗. v-u

v
x
v-u

Part 5: Multiplying a Vector by a Scalar

For 𝑣 = [𝑣𝑥 , 𝑣𝑦 ], 𝑘𝑣 = [𝑘𝑣𝑥 , 𝑘𝑣𝑦 ] y

Example 5: If 𝑣 = [7, 4], find 2𝑣.

x
Recall: Two vectors that are collinear can be drawn so they lie on the same line. In other words, they are
scalar multiples of one another.

𝑢 𝑢𝑦
⃗ = 𝑘𝑣 then 𝑣𝑥 =
If 𝑢
𝑥 𝑣𝑦

5 −3 −5
Example 6: Are 𝑢
⃗ = [3, 6] and 𝑣 = [ 2 , 12 ]

Part 6: Cartesian Vector Between 2 Points

y
Notice that ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑃1 𝑃2 = ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑂𝑃2 − ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑂𝑃1

Therefore, ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑃1 𝑃2 = [𝑥2 − 𝑥1 , 𝑦2 − 𝑦1 ]
P2(x2, y2)

Or, ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑃1 𝑃2 = [𝑥𝑡𝑖𝑝 − 𝑥𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑙 , 𝑦𝑡𝑖𝑝 − 𝑦𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑙 ]
P1(x1, y1)

O x
Example 7: Find the coordinates and the magnitude of each vector.

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ , for 𝐴(1,3) and 𝐵(7,2)

a) 𝐴𝐵
AB

AB

b) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐶𝐷, for 𝐶(−10,0) and 𝐷(0,10)

c) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐸𝐹 , for 𝐸(4, −3) and 𝐹(1, −7)
Part 7: Geometric Vectors in Cartesian Form

To write a geometric vector 𝑣 in Cartesian form, you need to use

trigonometry. In the previous unit, we found that the magnitude of the
horizontal component is |𝑣 | cos 𝜃, and the magnitude of the vertical
component is |𝑣| sin 𝜃, where 𝜃 is the angle 𝑣 makes with the horizontal, or
the positive 𝑥-axis.

Example 8: Write a force of 200 N at 20° to the horizontal in Cartesian form.

Example 9: A ship’s course is set to travel at 23 km/h, relative to the water, on a heading of 040°. A current of
8 km/h is flowing from a bearing of 160°.

a) Write each vector as a cartesian (algebraic) vector.

b) Determine the resultant velocity of the ship.

L2 – Dot Product Unit 5
MCV4U
Jensen

Part 1: Dot Product of Geometric Vectors

The dot product of two vectors is the product of the magnitude of one vector, vector 𝑏⃗, with the magnitude of
the other vector, 𝑎 that is applied in the same direction as 𝑏⃗. To determine the magnitude of 𝑎 that is applied
in the same direction as 𝑏⃗, we can consider the projection of vector 𝑎 on to vector 𝑏⃗ (𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗 𝑏⃗ 𝑎).

In other words, the dot product of 𝑎 ∙ 𝑏⃗ = |𝑏⃗| |𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗 𝑏⃗ 𝑎|

|𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗 ⃗⃗𝑏 𝑎⃗|

Notice: cos 𝜃 = |𝑎⃗|
, therefore |𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗 𝑏⃗ 𝑎| = |𝑎| cos 𝜃

From this, the dot product of 𝑎 ∙ 𝑏⃗ = |𝑎||𝑏⃗| cos 𝜃

The Dot Product:

For two vectors 𝑎 and 𝑏⃗, the dot product is defined as

𝑎 ∙ 𝑏⃗ = |𝑎||𝑏⃗| cos 𝜃, where 𝜃 is the angle between 𝑎 and 𝑏⃗ when
the vectors are arranged tail to tail, and 0 ≤ 𝜃 ≤ 180°. The dot
product is a scalar, not a vector, and the units depend on the
application.
Example 1: Determine the dot product of each pair of vectors.

a)

b)

c)

Properties of the Dot Product

• For non-zero vectors 𝑢 ⃗ and 𝑣 , 𝑢⃗ and 𝑣 are perpendicular if and only if 𝑢 ⃗ ∙𝑣=0
• For any vectors 𝑢
⃗ and 𝑣 , 𝑢 ⃗ ∙𝑣 = 𝑣∙𝑢 ⃗ . This is the commutative property.
• For any vector 𝑢
⃗,𝑢 ⃗ ∙𝑢 ⃗ = |𝑢 ⃗ |2
• ⃗ and 𝑣 and scalar 𝑘 ∈ ℝ, (𝑘𝑢
For any vectors 𝑢 ⃗ ) ∙ 𝑣 = 𝑘(𝑢 ⃗ ∙ 𝑣) = 𝑢 ⃗ ∙ (𝑘𝑣). This is the associative
property of the dot product.
• For any vectors 𝑢
⃗ , 𝑣 , and 𝑤 ⃗ ∙ (𝑣 + 𝑤
⃗⃗ , 𝑢 ⃗⃗ ) = 𝑢⃗ ∙𝑣+𝑢 ⃗⃗ . This is the distributive property of the dot
⃗ ∙𝑤
product.
Based on the angle 𝜃, we can predict whether our answer will be +, −, or 0:

If 𝜃 < 90° then 𝑢

⃗ ∙ 𝑣 ______

If 𝜃 > 90° then 𝑢

⃗ ∙ 𝑣 ______

If 𝜃 = 90° then 𝑢
⃗ ∙ 𝑣 ______

Part 2: Dot Product of Cartesian Vectors

The dot product of two Cartesian vectors 𝑎 = [𝑎𝑥 , 𝑎𝑦 ] and 𝑏⃗ = [𝑏𝑥 , 𝑏𝑦 ] is 𝑎 ∙ 𝑏⃗ = 𝑎𝑥 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑏𝑦

Example 2: Calculate 𝑢
⃗ ∙𝑣

⃗ = [5, −3], 𝑣 = [4, 7]

a) 𝑢

⃗ = [−2, 9], 𝑣 = [−1, 0]

b) 𝑢

Part 3: Mechanical Work

One of the applications of the dot product is to calculate the mechanical work (or simply the work) performed.
Mechanical work is the product of the magnitude of the displacement travelled by an object and the
magnitude of the force applied in the direction of the motion. The units are newton-meters (𝑁 ∙ 𝑚), also
known as joules (𝐽).

Example 3: Max is pulling his golf cart up a hill with a force of 120 N at an angle of 20° to the surface of the
hill. This hill is 100 meters long. Find the work that Max performs.
L3 – Applications of the Dot Product Unit 5
MCV4U
Jensen

Warm-Up

Example 1: A desk is pushed with a force of 50 N at an angle of 45 degrees below the horizontal. If the desk is
pushed 5 meters, how much work is done?

Remember: Mechanical work is

the product of the magnitude of
the displacement travelled by an
object and the magnitude of the
force applied in the direction of
the motion.

Part 1: Angle Between 2 Vectors

To determine the angle between two vectors, you can rearrange the dot product formula, 𝑎⃗ ∙ 𝑏⃗⃗ = |𝑎⃗||𝑏⃗⃗| cos 𝜃,
to isolate cos 𝜃:

Example 2: Determine the angle between each pair of vectors.

a) 𝑔⃗ = [5, 1] and ℎ⃗⃗ = [−3, 8] b) 𝑎⃗ = [−3, 6] and 𝑏⃗⃗ = [4, 2]

Part 2: Vector Projections

You can think of a vector projection like a shadow. The vertical arrows in the diagrams represent light from
above.

Think of the projection of 𝑎⃗ on 𝑏⃗⃗ as the shadow that 𝑎⃗ casts on 𝑏⃗⃗.

If the angle between 𝑎⃗ and 𝑏⃗⃗ is less than 90°, then the projection of 𝑎⃗
on 𝑏⃗⃗, or 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗 𝑏⃗⃗ 𝑎⃗, is the vector component of 𝑎⃗ in the direction of 𝑏⃗⃗.

If the angle between 𝑎⃗ and 𝑏⃗⃗ is between 90° and 180°, the direction of
𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗 𝑏⃗⃗ 𝑎⃗ is in the opposite direction of 𝑏⃗⃗.

If 𝑎⃗ is perpendicular to 𝑏⃗⃗, then 𝑎⃗ casts ‘no shadow’ on to 𝑏⃗⃗. So if 𝜃 = 90°,

𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗 𝑏⃗⃗ 𝑎⃗ = 0.

Note: This is why the dot product 𝑎⃗ ∙ 𝑏⃗⃗ would be zero for perpendicular
vectors.

Formulas for Vector Projection:

Geometric Formulas: Cartesian Formulas:

OR

Formulas for Magnitude of Vector Projection:

If 0° < 𝜃 < 90°

OR
If 90° < 𝜃 < 180°
 𝑏⃗⃗
Note: |𝑏⃗⃗| is a unit vector in the direction of 𝑏⃗⃗. Sometimes the symbol 𝑏̂ is used to denote a unit vector in the
direction of 𝑏⃗⃗.

Example 3: Determine the following projections of one vector on another.

a) Determine the projection of 𝑢

⃗⃗ on 𝑣⃗

b) Determine 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗 𝑞⃗⃗ 𝑝⃗

c) Determine the projection of 𝑑⃗ = [2, −3] on 𝑐⃗ = [1,4]

d) Find the magnitude of the projection of 𝑎⃗ = [4,3] on 𝑏⃗⃗ = [4, −1]

e) Find the projection of 𝑎⃗ = [4,3] on 𝑏⃗⃗ = [4, −1]

Part 3: Dot Product with Sales

Example 4: A shoe store sold 350 pairs of Nike shoes and 275 pairs of Adidas shoes in a year. Nike shoes sell
for $175 and Adidas shoes sell for $250.

a) Write a Cartesian vector, 𝑠⃗, to represent the numbers of pairs of shoes sold.

b) Write a Cartesian vector, 𝑝⃗, to represent the prices of the shoes.

c) Find the dot product 𝑠⃗ ∙ 𝑝⃗. What does this dot product represent?
L4 – Vectors in 3-Space Unit 5
MCV4U
Jensen

Part 1: Plotting Points in 3-Dimensions

https://www.geogebra.org/3d?lang=en

In placing points in 3-Dimensions (𝑅3 ), we choose three axes called 𝑥-, 𝑦-, and
𝑧-axis. Each axis is perpendicular. Each point is written using ordered triples
(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧).

There are several ways to choose the orientation of the positive axes, but we
will use what is called the right-handed system. If we imagine ourselves
looking down the positive 𝑧-axis onto the 𝑥𝑦 plane so that, when the positive
𝑥-axis is rotated 90° counterclockwise it becomes coincident with the
positive 𝑦-axis, then this is called the right-handed system.

If you curl the fingers of your right hand from the positive 𝑥-axis to the
positive 𝑦-axis your thumb will point along the positive 𝑧-axis.

To plot the point of (2, -3, 7), start at the origin. Move two units along the
positive 𝑥-axis, then 3 units parallel to the negative 𝑦-axis, and then 7 units
parallel to the positive 𝑧-axis.

Example 1: Plot the following points in 𝑅3

a) A(2, 6, 1) b) B(0, 0, 6)
z z

y y
x x
c) C(2, 3, 0) d) D(-1, -3, 4)
z z

y y
x x

Part 2: 3-D Cartesian Vectors

Let 𝑣⃗ represent a vector in space. If 𝑣⃗ is translated so that its tail

is at the origin, 𝑂, then its tip will be at some point 𝑃(𝑥1, 𝑦1 , 𝑧1 ).
Then 𝑣⃗ is the position vector of the point 𝑃, and 𝑣⃗ = 𝑂𝑃⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ =
[𝑥1, 𝑦1 , 𝑧1 ].

Unit Vectors in 𝑹𝟑
z
Unit vectors all have a magnitude of 1 and along the axes.
In 3-Dimensions, there are 3 unit vectors:

𝑥-axis is 𝑖⃗ = [1,0,0]
k
𝑦-axis is 𝑗⃗ = [0,1,0]
j
𝑧-axis is 𝑘⃗⃗ = [0,0,1]
i y
x
3-D vectors can be written as the sum of multiples of 𝑖⃗, 𝑗⃗, and 𝑘⃗⃗.

𝑣⃗ = [𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐] = [𝑎, 0,0] + [0, 𝑏, 0] + [0,0, 𝑐] = 𝑎𝑖⃗ + 𝑏𝑗⃗ + 𝑐𝑘⃗⃗

Part 3: Magnitude of Vectors in 𝑹𝟑

Example 2: For 𝑢
⃗⃗ = [3, −1, 2]…

a) sketch the position vector

z

y
x
b) write the vector in terms of 𝑖⃗, 𝑗⃗, and 𝑘⃗⃗

c) find the magnitude

Example 3: For the points 𝐴(1,3,1) and 𝐵(5, 4, -2)

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
a) Find the magnitude of 𝐴𝐵
Vector between 2 points:

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑃1 𝑃2 = [𝑥2 − 𝑥1 , 𝑦2 − 𝑦1 , 𝑧2 − 𝑧1 ]

⃗⃗, in the same direction as ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

b) Find a unit vector, 𝑢 𝐴𝐵
Tools for 2-D vectors modified for 3-D vectors:

Vector Addition: 𝑢
⃗⃗ + 𝑣⃗ = [𝑢𝑥 + 𝑣𝑥 , 𝑢𝑦 + 𝑣𝑦 , 𝑢𝑧 + 𝑣𝑧 ]

Vector Subtraction: 𝑢
⃗⃗ − 𝑣⃗ = [𝑢𝑥 − 𝑣𝑥 , 𝑢𝑦 − 𝑣𝑦 , 𝑢𝑧 − 𝑣𝑧 ]

Vector between 2 points: ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

𝑃1 𝑃2 = [𝑥2 − 𝑥1 , 𝑦2 − 𝑦1 , 𝑧2 − 𝑧1 ]

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
Magnitude of a vector between 2 points: |𝑃 1 𝑃2 | = √(𝑥2 − 𝑥1 ) + ( 𝑦2 − 𝑦1 ) + ( 𝑧2 − 𝑧1 )
2 2 2

Dot Product: for 𝑢

⃗⃗ = [𝑢1 , 𝑢2 , 𝑢3 ] and 𝑣⃗ = [𝑣1 , 𝑣2 , 𝑣3 ], 𝑢
⃗⃗ ∙ 𝑣⃗ = 𝑢1 𝑣1 + 𝑢2 𝑣2 + 𝑢3 𝑣3

Example 4: Given the vectors 𝑢

⃗⃗ = [2,3, −5], 𝑣⃗ = [8, −4,3], and 𝑤
⃗⃗⃗ = [−6, −2,0], simplify each vector
expression.

a) −3𝑣⃗ b) 𝑢
⃗⃗ + 𝑣⃗ + 𝑤
⃗⃗⃗

c) |𝑢
⃗⃗ − 𝑣⃗| d) 𝑢
⃗⃗ ∙ 𝑣⃗
Example 5: Determine if the vectors 𝑎⃗ = [6,2,4] and 𝑏⃗⃗ = [9,3,6] are collinear.

Example 6: Find 𝑎 such that [1,2,3] and [2, 𝑎, 6] are collinear.

Example 7: Calculate the angle between 𝑢

⃗⃗ = [0, −1, −4] and 𝑣⃗ = [6,1, −2]

Angle between 2 vectors can

be found using:

𝑎⃗ ∙ 𝑏⃗⃗
cos 𝜃 =
|𝑎⃗||𝑏⃗⃗|
Example 8: Find a vector that is orthogonal to [3,4,5]

⃗⃗ = [3, −3,2] onto 𝑣⃗ = [5,2,0]

Example 9: Find the magnitude of the projection of 𝑢

Formula reminder:

𝑎⃗ ∙ 𝑏⃗⃗
|𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗 𝑏⃗⃗ 𝑎⃗| = | |
|𝑏⃗⃗|
L5 – Cross Product of Vectors Unit 5
MCV4U
Jensen

The cross product of two vectors 𝑎⃗ and 𝑏⃗⃗ in 𝑅3 is the vector that is
_________________________ to these vectors such that the vectors 𝑎⃗,
𝑏⃗⃗, and 𝑎⃗ × 𝑏⃗⃗ form a right-handed system.

Right handed system tells you to point your hand along vector 𝑎⃗ and
curl your fingers towards vector 𝑏⃗⃗. Your thumb will be pointing in the
direction of 𝑎⃗ × 𝑏⃗⃗. Notice that 𝑎⃗ × 𝑏⃗⃗ and 𝑏⃗⃗ × 𝑎⃗ point in opposite
directions.

Sometimes the direction of the cross product is defined by either ‘in to the page’ or ‘out of the page’:

𝑎⃗ × 𝑏⃗⃗ 𝑏⃗⃗ × 𝑎⃗
“Out of the page” “In to the page”

3D visualization:

https://www.geogebra.org/3d/jyqcr3bf

a
Properties of Cross Product:

• 𝑢
⃗⃗ × 𝑣⃗ = −(𝑣⃗ × 𝑢 ⃗⃗)
• ⃗⃗ × (𝑣⃗ + 𝑤
𝑢 ⃗⃗⃗) = 𝑢 ⃗⃗ × 𝑣⃗ + 𝑢⃗⃗ × 𝑤⃗⃗⃗
• (𝑢⃗⃗ + 𝑣⃗) × 𝑤 ⃗⃗⃗ = 𝑢⃗⃗ × 𝑤⃗⃗⃗ + 𝑣⃗ × 𝑤⃗⃗⃗
• If 𝑢⃗⃗ × 𝑣⃗ = 0, and 𝑢 ⃗⃗ and 𝑣⃗ are non-zero, then 𝑢
⃗⃗ and 𝑣⃗ are collinear.
• 𝑘(𝑢 ⃗⃗ × 𝑣⃗) = (𝑘𝑢 ⃗⃗) × 𝑣⃗ = 𝑢 ⃗⃗ × (𝑘𝑣⃗)
• |𝑢
⃗⃗ × 𝑣⃗| = the area of the parallelogram defined by 𝑢 ⃗⃗ and 𝑣⃗
v

Part 2: Cross Product of Geometric Vectors

Formula: 𝑎⃗ × 𝑏⃗⃗ = (|𝑎⃗||𝑏⃗⃗| sin 𝜃)𝑛̂

𝜃 is the angle between the vectors

𝑛̂ is a unit vector perpendicular to both 𝑎⃗ and 𝑏⃗⃗

Example 1: If |𝑢
⃗⃗| = 30, |𝑣⃗| = 20, the angle between 𝑢
⃗⃗ and 𝑣⃗ is 40°, and 𝑢
⃗⃗ and 𝑣⃗ are in the plane of the page,
find…

a) 𝑢
⃗⃗ × 𝑣⃗

b) 𝑣⃗ × 𝑢
⃗⃗
Part 3: Cross Product of Algebraic Vectors

Formula:

If 𝑎⃗ = [𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 ] and 𝑏⃗⃗ = [𝑏1 , 𝑏2 , 𝑏3 ]

𝑎⃗ × 𝑏⃗⃗ = [ 𝑎2 𝑏3 − 𝑎3 𝑏2 , 𝑎3 𝑏1 − 𝑎1 𝑏3 , 𝑎1 𝑏2 − 𝑎2 𝑏1 ]

= (𝑎2 𝑏3 − 𝑎3 𝑏2 )𝑖⃗ + (𝑎3 𝑏1 − 𝑎1 𝑏3 )𝑗⃗ + (𝑎1 𝑏2 − 𝑎2 𝑏1 )𝑘⃗⃗

How to set it up:

a2 b2
x
a3 b3
y
a1 b1
z
a2 b2

Example 2: If 𝑝⃗ = [−1,3,2] and 𝑞⃗ = [2, −5,6], calculate each of the following:

a) 𝑝⃗ × 𝑞⃗

b) 𝑞⃗ × 𝑝⃗
Example 3a: Determine the area of the parallelogram defined by the vectors 𝑢
⃗⃗ = [4,5,2] and 𝑣⃗ = [3,2,7].

Example 3b: Determine the angle between the vectors 𝑢

⃗⃗ and 𝑣⃗.
L6 – Applications of Dot and Cross Product Unit 5
MCV4U
Jensen

Part 1: Torque

Torque, 𝜏, is a measure of the force acting on an object that causes it to rotate. Torque is the cross product of
the force and the torque arm. Torque is measured in 𝑁 ∙ 𝑚 (Newton meters).

𝜏⃗ = 𝑟⃗ × 𝐹⃗

|𝜏⃗| = |𝑟⃗||𝐹⃗ | sin 𝜃

𝐹⃗ is the force acting on the object

𝑟⃗ represent the arm and points from the axis of rotation to the point where the force is applied

𝜃 is the angle between 𝑟⃗ and 𝐹⃗

Use the right-hand rule to determine the direction of the torque vector.

Example 1: A wrench is used to tighten a bolt. A force of 60 N is applied in a clockwise direction at 80° to the
handle, 20 cm from the centre of the bolt.

a) Calculate the magnitude of the torque Note: make sure to

convert displacement
vector to meters.

b) In what direction does the torque vector point?

Part 2: Projection and Work
⃗⃗
𝑎⃗⃗∙𝑏
Projections in 𝑅3 are similar to projections in 𝑅2 , so you can use the same formula: 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗 𝑏⃗⃗ 𝑎⃗ = 𝑏⃗⃗∙𝑏⃗⃗ (𝑏⃗⃗)

Example 2: For the vectors 𝑣⃗ = [4,2,7] and 𝑢

⃗⃗ = [6,3,8]

a) Find 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗 𝑢⃗⃗ 𝑣⃗

b) Find the magnitude of the projection Or just find magnitude of vector found in part a)

Reminder: Work performed is the product of the magnitude of the displacement travelled by an object and
the magnitude of the force applied in the direction of the motion (use dot product to find this). The units are
joules (J).

Example 3: A force with units in newtons and defined by 𝐹⃗ = [300,700,500] acts on an object with
displacement, in meters, defined by 𝑑⃗ = [3,1,12].

a) Determine the work done in the direction of travel.

b) Determine the work done against gravity, which is a force in the direction of the negative 𝑧-axis.

Use only the vertical components to calculate

the work against gravity.
Part 3: Triple Scalar Product and Volume of a Parallelepiped

The Triple Scalar Product

Certain situations require a combination of the dot and cross products. The triple scalar product, 𝑎⃗ ∙ 𝑏⃗⃗ × 𝑐⃗, is
one such combination. Because the dot product is a scalar, this combination is only meaningful if the cross
product is performed first.

Example 4: Consider the vectors 𝑢

⃗⃗ = [4,3,1], 𝑣⃗ = [2,5,6], and 𝑤
⃗⃗⃗ = [10, −3, −14]. Evaluate the expression
𝑢
⃗⃗ × 𝑣⃗ ∙ 𝑤
⃗⃗⃗

Volume of a Parallelepiped

A parallelepiped is a three-dimensional figure formed by six

parallelograms. In general, the volume of the parallelepiped
defined by the vectors 𝑢 ⃗⃗⃗ is given by 𝑉 = |𝑤
⃗⃗, 𝑣⃗, and 𝑤 ⃗⃗⃗ ∙ 𝑢
⃗⃗ × 𝑣⃗|.

Example 5: Find the volume of the parallelepiped defined by 𝑎⃗ = [6,3, −2], 𝑏⃗⃗ = [−4,6,9] and 𝑐⃗ = [3,3, −11]