## Perpendicular Vectors

Discussions for the Core part of the syllabus. Algebra, Functions and equations, Circular functions and trigonometry, Vectors, Statistics and probability, Calculus. IB Maths HL Revision Notes

### Perpendicular Vectors

Vectors, Scalar Product, Perpendicular vectors - IB Maths HL

How can we find the value of the parameter $n$ for which the vectors

$v= \begin{pmatrix} 3n \\ -4n \\ 7 \end{pmatrix}$ and

$w= \begin{pmatrix} 6 \\ -8 \\ 4 \end{pmatrix}$ are perpendicular?

Thanks
lora

Posts: 0
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2013 7:36 pm

### Re: Perpendicular Vectors

IB Maths HL – Vectors, dot Product, perpendicular vectors

We know that two vectors are perpendicular if and only their scalar product equals zero.

Therefore,

$v \cdot w=(3n \cdot 6) + (-4n \cdot (-8)) + (7 \cdot 4) =18n+32n+28=0$

$\Rightarrow 50n= -28 \Rightarrow n=\frac{-28}{50}=\frac{-14}{25}$

Hope these help!!
lily

Posts: 0
Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2013 8:04 pm

### Re: Perpendicular Vectors

Thanks Lily!!
lora

Posts: 0
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2013 7:36 pm