What is the dot product of #<-8,4,2 > # and #<-3,1,6 > #?

1 Answer
Oct 29, 2016

#=40#

Explanation:

It is easier to visualise what is happening if you write the vectors in vertical form. (imagine brackets around the stacks of numbers)

#(-8)# #" "(-3)#
#" "(4) # #*##" "(1)#
#" "(2)# #" "(6)#

now we take each of the rows, multiply them, and then add the products together,

#((-8)*(-3))+((4)(1))+((2)(6))#

#=24+4+12#

#=40#