Two vectors a and b are non-zero and orthogonal. When two vectors are orthogonal, their dot product is zero: a⋅b=0.
To find the magnitude of the vector sum:
∣a+b∣2=(a+b)⋅(a+b)
=a⋅a+a⋅b+b⋅a+b⋅b
=∣a∣2+2a⋅b+∣b∣2
Since the vectors are orthogonal, a⋅b=0:
∣a+b∣2=∣a∣2+∣b∣2
∣a+b∣=∣a∣2+∣b∣2
Similarly, for ∣a−b∣:
∣a−b∣2=(a−b)⋅(a−b)
=∣a∣2−2a⋅b+∣b∣2
Since a⋅b=0:
∣a−b∣2=∣a∣2+∣b∣2
∣a−b∣=∣a∣2+∣b∣2
Comparing the results:
∣a+b∣=∣a∣2+∣b∣2=∣a−b∣
Therefore, ∣a+b∣=∣a−b∣