Dot Product
The dot product is particular product of two vectors which results in a scalar corresponding to the length of the projection of one vector onto the other.
Dot product is a high school-level concept that would be first encountered in a pre-calculus course covering vectors. It is listed in the California State Standards for Linear Algebra.
Prerequisites
Perpendicular: | Two lines, vectors, planes, etc. that intersect at a right angle are said to be perpendicular. |
Vector: | (1) In vector algebra, a vector mathematical entity that has both magnitude (which can be zero) and direction. (2) In topology, a vector is an element of a vector space. |