finding out if two vectors are perpendicular or parallel












0












$begingroup$


I'm not sure if I quite get this. For example,



(1, -1) and (-3, 3)



take the cross product, you will end up with
-3 + (-3)



This doesn't equal 0, so it's not perpendicular. So that leaves me with it being parallel. When are two vectors parallel?










share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    You mean dot product, not cross product.
    $endgroup$
    – user26486
    Jun 13 '15 at 17:29










  • $begingroup$
    I think did you mean the "dot product".
    $endgroup$
    – Mann
    Jun 13 '15 at 17:29










  • $begingroup$
    Vectors $(a_1,a_2)$ and $(b_1,b_2)$ are parallel iff $frac{a_1}{b_1}=frac{a_2}{b_2}$
    $endgroup$
    – user26486
    Jun 13 '15 at 17:31
















0












$begingroup$


I'm not sure if I quite get this. For example,



(1, -1) and (-3, 3)



take the cross product, you will end up with
-3 + (-3)



This doesn't equal 0, so it's not perpendicular. So that leaves me with it being parallel. When are two vectors parallel?










share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    You mean dot product, not cross product.
    $endgroup$
    – user26486
    Jun 13 '15 at 17:29










  • $begingroup$
    I think did you mean the "dot product".
    $endgroup$
    – Mann
    Jun 13 '15 at 17:29










  • $begingroup$
    Vectors $(a_1,a_2)$ and $(b_1,b_2)$ are parallel iff $frac{a_1}{b_1}=frac{a_2}{b_2}$
    $endgroup$
    – user26486
    Jun 13 '15 at 17:31














0












0








0





$begingroup$


I'm not sure if I quite get this. For example,



(1, -1) and (-3, 3)



take the cross product, you will end up with
-3 + (-3)



This doesn't equal 0, so it's not perpendicular. So that leaves me with it being parallel. When are two vectors parallel?










share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$




I'm not sure if I quite get this. For example,



(1, -1) and (-3, 3)



take the cross product, you will end up with
-3 + (-3)



This doesn't equal 0, so it's not perpendicular. So that leaves me with it being parallel. When are two vectors parallel?







calculus vectors






share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question











share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question










asked Jun 13 '15 at 17:27









Kevin R.Kevin R.

238148




238148












  • $begingroup$
    You mean dot product, not cross product.
    $endgroup$
    – user26486
    Jun 13 '15 at 17:29










  • $begingroup$
    I think did you mean the "dot product".
    $endgroup$
    – Mann
    Jun 13 '15 at 17:29










  • $begingroup$
    Vectors $(a_1,a_2)$ and $(b_1,b_2)$ are parallel iff $frac{a_1}{b_1}=frac{a_2}{b_2}$
    $endgroup$
    – user26486
    Jun 13 '15 at 17:31


















  • $begingroup$
    You mean dot product, not cross product.
    $endgroup$
    – user26486
    Jun 13 '15 at 17:29










  • $begingroup$
    I think did you mean the "dot product".
    $endgroup$
    – Mann
    Jun 13 '15 at 17:29










  • $begingroup$
    Vectors $(a_1,a_2)$ and $(b_1,b_2)$ are parallel iff $frac{a_1}{b_1}=frac{a_2}{b_2}$
    $endgroup$
    – user26486
    Jun 13 '15 at 17:31
















$begingroup$
You mean dot product, not cross product.
$endgroup$
– user26486
Jun 13 '15 at 17:29




$begingroup$
You mean dot product, not cross product.
$endgroup$
– user26486
Jun 13 '15 at 17:29












$begingroup$
I think did you mean the "dot product".
$endgroup$
– Mann
Jun 13 '15 at 17:29




$begingroup$
I think did you mean the "dot product".
$endgroup$
– Mann
Jun 13 '15 at 17:29












$begingroup$
Vectors $(a_1,a_2)$ and $(b_1,b_2)$ are parallel iff $frac{a_1}{b_1}=frac{a_2}{b_2}$
$endgroup$
– user26486
Jun 13 '15 at 17:31




$begingroup$
Vectors $(a_1,a_2)$ and $(b_1,b_2)$ are parallel iff $frac{a_1}{b_1}=frac{a_2}{b_2}$
$endgroup$
– user26486
Jun 13 '15 at 17:31










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes


















3












$begingroup$

You can find the angle between the two vectors
$$theta=cos^{-1}(frac{v_1.v_2}{|v_1||v_2|})$$
if $theta=0$or $180$ the two vectors are parallel



if $theta=90$ the two vetors are perpendicular






share|cite|improve this answer











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    In OP's problem, you get $$ cos^{-1} left( frac{-6}{ sqrt{2} cdot 3 sqrt{2}} right) = cos^{-1} (-1) = 180º , $$ so you may want to mention the case of anti-parallelism. (Some folks do use "parallel" to refer to any vectors that are collinear.)
    $endgroup$
    – colormegone
    Jun 13 '15 at 19:39












  • $begingroup$
    @RecklessReckoner Thanks
    $endgroup$
    – E.H.E
    Jun 13 '15 at 19:53










  • $begingroup$
    @colormegone: Please don't confuse (°, U+00B0: DEGREE SIGN) and (º, U+00BA: MASCULINE ORDINAL INDICATOR)!
    $endgroup$
    – Andreas Rejbrand
    Feb 24 at 14:35



















3












$begingroup$

Two vectors $v1(x1,y1)$ and $v2(x2,y2)$ are parallel iff $x1y2 = x2y1$.






share|cite|improve this answer











$endgroup$





















    1












    $begingroup$

    They are parallel if and only if they are different by a factor i.e. (1,3) and (-2,-6).
    The dot product will be 0 for perpendicular vectors i.e. they cross at exactly 90 degrees.



    When you calculate the dot product and your answer is non-zero it just means the two vectors are not perpendicular.






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$





















      1












      $begingroup$

      Two vectors are parallel when they are scalar multiples of each other. In other words, if you can multiply one vector by a constant and end up with the other vector.



      The rough reason for this is that multiplying by a scalar doesn't rotate the vector at all (it can stretch or flip the vector, but it doesn't change the direction).






      share|cite|improve this answer









      $endgroup$














        Your Answer





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        4 Answers
        4






        active

        oldest

        votes








        4 Answers
        4






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

        oldest

        votes









        3












        $begingroup$

        You can find the angle between the two vectors
        $$theta=cos^{-1}(frac{v_1.v_2}{|v_1||v_2|})$$
        if $theta=0$or $180$ the two vectors are parallel



        if $theta=90$ the two vetors are perpendicular






        share|cite|improve this answer











        $endgroup$













        • $begingroup$
          In OP's problem, you get $$ cos^{-1} left( frac{-6}{ sqrt{2} cdot 3 sqrt{2}} right) = cos^{-1} (-1) = 180º , $$ so you may want to mention the case of anti-parallelism. (Some folks do use "parallel" to refer to any vectors that are collinear.)
          $endgroup$
          – colormegone
          Jun 13 '15 at 19:39












        • $begingroup$
          @RecklessReckoner Thanks
          $endgroup$
          – E.H.E
          Jun 13 '15 at 19:53










        • $begingroup$
          @colormegone: Please don't confuse (°, U+00B0: DEGREE SIGN) and (º, U+00BA: MASCULINE ORDINAL INDICATOR)!
          $endgroup$
          – Andreas Rejbrand
          Feb 24 at 14:35
















        3












        $begingroup$

        You can find the angle between the two vectors
        $$theta=cos^{-1}(frac{v_1.v_2}{|v_1||v_2|})$$
        if $theta=0$or $180$ the two vectors are parallel



        if $theta=90$ the two vetors are perpendicular






        share|cite|improve this answer











        $endgroup$













        • $begingroup$
          In OP's problem, you get $$ cos^{-1} left( frac{-6}{ sqrt{2} cdot 3 sqrt{2}} right) = cos^{-1} (-1) = 180º , $$ so you may want to mention the case of anti-parallelism. (Some folks do use "parallel" to refer to any vectors that are collinear.)
          $endgroup$
          – colormegone
          Jun 13 '15 at 19:39












        • $begingroup$
          @RecklessReckoner Thanks
          $endgroup$
          – E.H.E
          Jun 13 '15 at 19:53










        • $begingroup$
          @colormegone: Please don't confuse (°, U+00B0: DEGREE SIGN) and (º, U+00BA: MASCULINE ORDINAL INDICATOR)!
          $endgroup$
          – Andreas Rejbrand
          Feb 24 at 14:35














        3












        3








        3





        $begingroup$

        You can find the angle between the two vectors
        $$theta=cos^{-1}(frac{v_1.v_2}{|v_1||v_2|})$$
        if $theta=0$or $180$ the two vectors are parallel



        if $theta=90$ the two vetors are perpendicular






        share|cite|improve this answer











        $endgroup$



        You can find the angle between the two vectors
        $$theta=cos^{-1}(frac{v_1.v_2}{|v_1||v_2|})$$
        if $theta=0$or $180$ the two vectors are parallel



        if $theta=90$ the two vetors are perpendicular







        share|cite|improve this answer














        share|cite|improve this answer



        share|cite|improve this answer








        edited Jun 13 '15 at 19:53

























        answered Jun 13 '15 at 17:46









        E.H.EE.H.E

        16.1k11969




        16.1k11969












        • $begingroup$
          In OP's problem, you get $$ cos^{-1} left( frac{-6}{ sqrt{2} cdot 3 sqrt{2}} right) = cos^{-1} (-1) = 180º , $$ so you may want to mention the case of anti-parallelism. (Some folks do use "parallel" to refer to any vectors that are collinear.)
          $endgroup$
          – colormegone
          Jun 13 '15 at 19:39












        • $begingroup$
          @RecklessReckoner Thanks
          $endgroup$
          – E.H.E
          Jun 13 '15 at 19:53










        • $begingroup$
          @colormegone: Please don't confuse (°, U+00B0: DEGREE SIGN) and (º, U+00BA: MASCULINE ORDINAL INDICATOR)!
          $endgroup$
          – Andreas Rejbrand
          Feb 24 at 14:35


















        • $begingroup$
          In OP's problem, you get $$ cos^{-1} left( frac{-6}{ sqrt{2} cdot 3 sqrt{2}} right) = cos^{-1} (-1) = 180º , $$ so you may want to mention the case of anti-parallelism. (Some folks do use "parallel" to refer to any vectors that are collinear.)
          $endgroup$
          – colormegone
          Jun 13 '15 at 19:39












        • $begingroup$
          @RecklessReckoner Thanks
          $endgroup$
          – E.H.E
          Jun 13 '15 at 19:53










        • $begingroup$
          @colormegone: Please don't confuse (°, U+00B0: DEGREE SIGN) and (º, U+00BA: MASCULINE ORDINAL INDICATOR)!
          $endgroup$
          – Andreas Rejbrand
          Feb 24 at 14:35
















        $begingroup$
        In OP's problem, you get $$ cos^{-1} left( frac{-6}{ sqrt{2} cdot 3 sqrt{2}} right) = cos^{-1} (-1) = 180º , $$ so you may want to mention the case of anti-parallelism. (Some folks do use "parallel" to refer to any vectors that are collinear.)
        $endgroup$
        – colormegone
        Jun 13 '15 at 19:39






        $begingroup$
        In OP's problem, you get $$ cos^{-1} left( frac{-6}{ sqrt{2} cdot 3 sqrt{2}} right) = cos^{-1} (-1) = 180º , $$ so you may want to mention the case of anti-parallelism. (Some folks do use "parallel" to refer to any vectors that are collinear.)
        $endgroup$
        – colormegone
        Jun 13 '15 at 19:39














        $begingroup$
        @RecklessReckoner Thanks
        $endgroup$
        – E.H.E
        Jun 13 '15 at 19:53




        $begingroup$
        @RecklessReckoner Thanks
        $endgroup$
        – E.H.E
        Jun 13 '15 at 19:53












        $begingroup$
        @colormegone: Please don't confuse (°, U+00B0: DEGREE SIGN) and (º, U+00BA: MASCULINE ORDINAL INDICATOR)!
        $endgroup$
        – Andreas Rejbrand
        Feb 24 at 14:35




        $begingroup$
        @colormegone: Please don't confuse (°, U+00B0: DEGREE SIGN) and (º, U+00BA: MASCULINE ORDINAL INDICATOR)!
        $endgroup$
        – Andreas Rejbrand
        Feb 24 at 14:35











        3












        $begingroup$

        Two vectors $v1(x1,y1)$ and $v2(x2,y2)$ are parallel iff $x1y2 = x2y1$.






        share|cite|improve this answer











        $endgroup$


















          3












          $begingroup$

          Two vectors $v1(x1,y1)$ and $v2(x2,y2)$ are parallel iff $x1y2 = x2y1$.






          share|cite|improve this answer











          $endgroup$
















            3












            3








            3





            $begingroup$

            Two vectors $v1(x1,y1)$ and $v2(x2,y2)$ are parallel iff $x1y2 = x2y1$.






            share|cite|improve this answer











            $endgroup$



            Two vectors $v1(x1,y1)$ and $v2(x2,y2)$ are parallel iff $x1y2 = x2y1$.







            share|cite|improve this answer














            share|cite|improve this answer



            share|cite|improve this answer








            edited Jan 31 at 18:57









            paulmelnikow

            1032




            1032










            answered Jun 13 '15 at 17:38









            Amir NaseriAmir Naseri

            959516




            959516























                1












                $begingroup$

                They are parallel if and only if they are different by a factor i.e. (1,3) and (-2,-6).
                The dot product will be 0 for perpendicular vectors i.e. they cross at exactly 90 degrees.



                When you calculate the dot product and your answer is non-zero it just means the two vectors are not perpendicular.






                share|cite|improve this answer









                $endgroup$


















                  1












                  $begingroup$

                  They are parallel if and only if they are different by a factor i.e. (1,3) and (-2,-6).
                  The dot product will be 0 for perpendicular vectors i.e. they cross at exactly 90 degrees.



                  When you calculate the dot product and your answer is non-zero it just means the two vectors are not perpendicular.






                  share|cite|improve this answer









                  $endgroup$
















                    1












                    1








                    1





                    $begingroup$

                    They are parallel if and only if they are different by a factor i.e. (1,3) and (-2,-6).
                    The dot product will be 0 for perpendicular vectors i.e. they cross at exactly 90 degrees.



                    When you calculate the dot product and your answer is non-zero it just means the two vectors are not perpendicular.






                    share|cite|improve this answer









                    $endgroup$



                    They are parallel if and only if they are different by a factor i.e. (1,3) and (-2,-6).
                    The dot product will be 0 for perpendicular vectors i.e. they cross at exactly 90 degrees.



                    When you calculate the dot product and your answer is non-zero it just means the two vectors are not perpendicular.







                    share|cite|improve this answer












                    share|cite|improve this answer



                    share|cite|improve this answer










                    answered Jun 13 '15 at 17:30









                    user167289user167289

                    11911




                    11911























                        1












                        $begingroup$

                        Two vectors are parallel when they are scalar multiples of each other. In other words, if you can multiply one vector by a constant and end up with the other vector.



                        The rough reason for this is that multiplying by a scalar doesn't rotate the vector at all (it can stretch or flip the vector, but it doesn't change the direction).






                        share|cite|improve this answer









                        $endgroup$


















                          1












                          $begingroup$

                          Two vectors are parallel when they are scalar multiples of each other. In other words, if you can multiply one vector by a constant and end up with the other vector.



                          The rough reason for this is that multiplying by a scalar doesn't rotate the vector at all (it can stretch or flip the vector, but it doesn't change the direction).






                          share|cite|improve this answer









                          $endgroup$
















                            1












                            1








                            1





                            $begingroup$

                            Two vectors are parallel when they are scalar multiples of each other. In other words, if you can multiply one vector by a constant and end up with the other vector.



                            The rough reason for this is that multiplying by a scalar doesn't rotate the vector at all (it can stretch or flip the vector, but it doesn't change the direction).






                            share|cite|improve this answer









                            $endgroup$



                            Two vectors are parallel when they are scalar multiples of each other. In other words, if you can multiply one vector by a constant and end up with the other vector.



                            The rough reason for this is that multiplying by a scalar doesn't rotate the vector at all (it can stretch or flip the vector, but it doesn't change the direction).







                            share|cite|improve this answer












                            share|cite|improve this answer



                            share|cite|improve this answer










                            answered Jun 13 '15 at 17:31









                            ptrsinclairptrsinclair

                            38628




                            38628






























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