Mathematics I / Dot Product and Angles
Practice question · True or false

The dot product of two non-zero vectors is zero exactly when they are perpendicular.

Hints
  1. ab=abcosθa \cdot b = |a||b|\cos\theta.
  2. Where does cosine vanish?
Show the answer

True

Why

True. With both magnitudes non-zero, cosθ=0\cos\theta = 0 forces θ=90°\theta = 90°. That equivalence is what makes the dot product the computational test for orthogonality, no angles measured, and it is the basis of projection, of least squares, and of checking a basis is orthonormal.

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