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Old 04-26-2009, 04:36 PM
mmmmm_PIE mmmmm_PIE is a male Canada mmmmm_PIE is online now
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Edmonton, AB
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Re: Linear Algebgra and Vectors

Well, there's certainly a problem with the wording, as a vector is technically parallel to itself, and so b !|| c implies b != c. Plus, taking a=0 gives infinite counter examples....


Aside from that, assuming we're in R3;
Note case where b=0. Here axb=axc => c=0 (again, assuming a!=0). Disregard.

axb=axc => b,c coplanar.
axb=axc => |b|sin(Angle ab) = |c|sin(Angle ac)
(use axb =|a||b|sin(Angle)n)
a.b=a.c => |b|cos(Angle ab) = |c|cos(Angle ac)
(use a.b = |a||b|cos(Angle)).

Note that the, in general, sin(t) != cos(t), and so this system of equations is true arbitrarily iff |b|=|c|.
We then cancel to get sin(Angle ab) = sin(Angle ac) and cos(Angle ab) = cos(Angle ac) which together imply Angle ab = Angle ac
Thus b and c are equal in magnitude and direction [combine coplanar, angle with a], thus are equal.
Last Edited by mmmmm_PIE; 04-26-2009 at 07:17 PM. Reason: Reply With Quote
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