Questions: What are orthogonal vectors?
Two vectors are orthogonal when the dot product of the vectors is 1 or -1.
Two vectors are orthogonal when the angle between the vectors is 90°.
Transcript text: What are orthogonal vectors?
Two vectors are orthogonal when the dot product of the vectors is 1 or -1.
Two vectors are orthogonal when the angle between the vectors is $90^{\circ}$.
Solution
Solution Steps
Step 1: Definition of Orthogonal Vectors
Orthogonal vectors are defined as two vectors that are perpendicular to each other. This means that the angle between the two vectors is \(90^{\circ}\).
Step 2: Mathematical Condition for Orthogonality
For two vectors \(\mathbf{a}\) and \(\mathbf{b}\) to be orthogonal, their dot product must be zero. Mathematically, this is expressed as:
\[
\mathbf{a} \cdot \mathbf{b} = 0
\]
Step 3: Explanation of Dot Product
The dot product of two vectors \(\mathbf{a} = (a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_n)\) and \(\mathbf{b} = (b_1, b_2, \ldots, b_n)\) is calculated as:
\[
\mathbf{a} \cdot \mathbf{b} = a_1b_1 + a_2b_2 + \cdots + a_nb_n
\]
If this sum equals zero, the vectors are orthogonal.
Final Answer
Two vectors are orthogonal when the angle between the vectors is \(90^{\circ}\), which is equivalent to their dot product being zero. \(\boxed{\text{Orthogonal vectors have a dot product of zero.}}\)