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western50
Jan 27, 2011, 12:53 AM
Assume that a and b are nonzero vectors in 3 dimensional. Is it ever the cause that projection a on b =projection b on a? If so, exactly when does this occur? The condition should be both necessary and sufficient.

I think that there would be case like that, and I am thinking that can two vectors that made 90 degree work, such as I=(1,0), and j=(0,1), and the projection a on b =projection b on a would = 0? But what would a "0" in projection mean?
Or is there a better example on when does that occur?

anadoingtaxes
Feb 13, 2011, 07:34 PM
Try also with the vector b being a multiple of the vector a, for example, b=2a. What happens then?

ebaines
Feb 14, 2011, 11:12 AM
Consider the formula for the magnitude of the projection of \vec a on \vec b: it's |a| \cos \theta. Conversely, the projection of \vec b on \vec a is |b| \cos \theta . So for the two projections to be equal in magnitude you must have:


|a| \cos \theta = {|b| \cos \theta


Can you think of coditions for either |a| and |b|or angle \theta that make this true?