Parametric, Polar & Vectors · Vector Operations

Angle Between Vectors

cosθ=uvuv\cos\theta = \frac{\vec{u} \cdot \vec{v}}{|\vec{u}||\vec{v}|}

The angle between two vectors is found using the dot product divided by the product of their magnitudes.

  • 4 variables
  • 2 worked examples
  • 12 in Parametric, Polar & Vectors

Variables

Variables used in the Angle Between Vectors formula
SymbolNameUnit
u1u x-component -
u2u y-component -
v1v x-component -
v2v y-component -

Worked examples

Find the angle between ⟨1, 0⟩ and ⟨1, 1⟩.
  1. u · v = 1. |u| = 1, |v| = √2.
  2. cos θ = 1/√2 → θ = π/4 = 45°

Answer: π/4 (45°)

1 more worked examplePremium

Find the angle between ⟨1, 2, 3⟩ and ⟨-1, 0, 1⟩.

Step-by-step solution locked.

Unlock the full working. CalcRef Premium opens the step-by-step solution above, and 141 worked solutions across the whole library - the intermediate lines, not just the answer. The formula statement, its conditions, its variables and the first worked example stay free on every page.

See all 12 Parametric, Polar & Vectors formulas on one printable sheet - the same statements and conditions as these pages, typeset and laid out for paper.

Common questions

What is the Angle Between Vectors?

The angle between two vectors is found using the dot product divided by the product of their magnitudes. It is one of the parametric, polar & vectors formulas in the CalcRef reference.

What do the symbols in the Angle Between Vectors mean?

In the Angle Between Vectors, u1 is the u x-component; u2 is the u y-component; v1 is the v x-component; v2 is the v y-component.

How do you use the Angle Between Vectors?

Worked example. Find the angle between ⟨1, 0⟩ and ⟨1, 1⟩. u · v = 1. |u| = 1, |v| = √2. cos θ = 1/√2 → θ = π/4 = 45°. Answer: π/4 (45°).

Practice

Quiz yourself on Parametric, Polar & Vectors

Angle Between Vectors is one of 12 Parametric, Polar & Vectors formulas in CalcRef, out of 136 in the library. Today's free round is 10 mixed multiple-choice questions drawn from the same dataset as this page, refreshed every day and replayable as often as you like - no account needed.