UnitPerpendicularVector Command

UnitPerpendicularVector( <Line>): Returns the perpendicular vector with length 1 of the given line.

UnitPerpendicularVector(3x + 4y = 5) yields \(\begin{pmatrix}0.6\\0.8\end{pmatrix}\).

UnitPerpendicularVector( <Segment> ): Returns the perpendicular vector with length 1 of the given segment.

Let s = Segment((1,1), (4,5)).

UnitPerpendicularVector(s) yields \(\begin{pmatrix}-0.8\\0.6\end{pmatrix}\).

UnitPerpendicularVector( <Vector> ): Returns the perpendicular vector with length 1 of the given vector. The vector must be defined first.

Let v=\(\begin{pmatrix}3\\4\end{pmatrix}\). UnitPerpendicularVector(v) yields \(\begin{pmatrix}-0.8\\0.6\end{pmatrix}\).

CAS Syntax

In the CAS View vectors with undefined variables are also valid input.

UnitPerpendicularVector((a, b)) yields (\(\frac{-b}{\sqrt{a^2 + b^2}}\),\(\frac{a}{\sqrt{a^2+ b^2}}\)).

UnitPerpendicularVector( <Plane> ): Creates a unit vector orthogonal to the plane.