What is a mathematical explanation of the connection between: (1) projecting vector a onto vector b and multiplying the projected length of a with the length of vector b, and (2) the sum of the products of the equivalent components of the two vectors?

Lillie Pittman

Lillie Pittman

Answered question

2022-07-19

What is a mathematical explanation of the connection between: (1) projecting vector a onto vector b and multiplying the projected length of a with the length of vector b, and (2) the sum of the products of the equivalent components of the two vectors?
I realise there is a duality between a 2-dimensional vector and a 1x2 matrix, which can be used to explain the computation of the dot product. But I have not seen a satisfactory mathematical derivation, and was wondering whether there is another, simpler mathematical explanation.

Answer & Explanation

eishale2n

eishale2n

Beginner2022-07-20Added 15 answers

Let's start with the geometrical definition
a b = a b cos θ
Also, suppose that we have an orthonormal basis { e ^ i }. Then
a = i a i e ^ i b = i b i e ^ i
Now using the geometrical definition, if two of the basis vectors are the same
e ^ i e ^ i = e i e i cos 0 = 1
and if two vectors are different
e ^ i e ^ j = e i e j cos π 2 = 0
Then
a b = a ( i b i e ^ i ) = i ( a e ^ i ) b i = i a i b i

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