Thread: scalar product

Hi,

I know HOW to use a scalar product. However I don't know why do we need it and need a image of the result.

thanks,

Vinh

Hello, vinh48!

I know HOW to use a scalar product.
However I don't know why do we need it and need a image of the result.

As far as I know, the scalar product has no immediate meaning or image,
. . but it is used in a variety of formulas.


Given two vectors: .

. .

. .

. .


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


I suggest that the scalar product is "similar" to a determinant.

A determinant has a value which, by itself, is meaningless.
However, it can be used in a variety of ways (e.g. Cramer's rule)
. . for a number of mathematical tasks.

Thanks Soroban for your quick reply.
Yes, you just answered for the immediate meaning or image.

It is use if we want to have a projection of a vector on another one.
Can be use to calculate the shadow.

Vinh

Originally Posted by vinh48

Hi,

I know HOW to use a scalar product. However I don't know why do we need it and need a image of the result.

thanks,

Vinh

It has numerous applications in physics. You can spend hours researching this. One basic application is calculating the work done by a force.