Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Dot Product
The dot product of two vectors is a scalar value obtained by multiplying their corresponding components and summing the results. It is calculated as A·B = A1*B1 + A2*B2 for vectors A = 〈A1, A2〉 and B = 〈B1, B2〉. The dot product is crucial for finding the angle between vectors, as it relates to the cosine of the angle through the formula A·B = |A| |B| cos(θ).
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Magnitude of a Vector
The magnitude of a vector is its length, calculated using the formula |A| = √(A1² + A2²) for a vector A = 〈A1, A2〉. This value is essential for determining the angle between vectors, as it is used in the dot product formula. Understanding how to compute the magnitude allows for accurate calculations of angles and comparisons between vector lengths.
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Cosine of the Angle
The cosine of the angle between two vectors can be derived from the dot product and the magnitudes of the vectors. Specifically, cos(θ) = (A·B) / (|A| |B|). This relationship is fundamental in trigonometry, as it allows us to find the angle θ by taking the inverse cosine (arccos) of the calculated value. Rounding the result to two decimal places is often required for precision in final answers.
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