Mathematics I / Dot Product and Angles
Practice question · Select all that apply

Let u = (1, 2, -2). Select every vector below that is orthogonal to u.

Hints
  1. Dot each candidate with u and keep only the ones giving exactly zero.
  2. The five dot products are 0, 0, 1, 0 and -1.
Show the answer
  • B. (2, 0, 1)
  • D. (2, -1, 0)
  • E. (0, 1, 1)
Why

(2, 0, 1) gives 2 + 0 - 2 = 0; (2, -1, 0) gives 2 - 2 + 0 = 0; (0, 1, 1) gives 0 + 2 - 2 = 0. The other two give 1 and -1, so their angles with u are merely near a right angle, not equal to one. In space a whole plane of vectors is orthogonal to u, so several answers being correct is expected.

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