LaTeX Dot Product (·) - Complete Guide
The centered dot (·) is used for multiplication and dot products in LaTeX.
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Dot Product
LaTeX Code
No package required
\cdotCentered dot for multiplication
What is the LaTeX Dot Product?
The centered dot (·) is commonly used as a multiplication operator and for dot products in vector mathematics. It is cleaner than \times in many contexts.
How to Use Dot Product in LaTeX
Method 1: Using \cdot
✅No package required
Centered dot for multiplication
Example: Using \cdot
\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
% Using the Dot Product
Text with \cdot
\end{document}Common Use Cases
The Dot Product symbol is commonly used in the following contexts:
Scalar Multiplication
Multiplying scalars.
Code
$a \cdot b = ab$Output
a · b = ab
Dot Product
Vector dot product.
Code
$\mathbf{u} \cdot \mathbf{v} = |\mathbf{u}||\mathbf{v}|\cos\theta$Output
u · v = |u||v|cos(θ)
Complete Examples
Dot Product Formula
Vector dot product
\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
The dot product: $\mathbf{a} \cdot \mathbf{b} = a_x b_x + a_y b_y + a_z b_z$
\end{document}Frequently Asked Questions
Which method should I use?
We recommend using the method marked as "Recommended" above. However, the best method depends on your specific needs:
- \cdot: Centered dot for multiplication
Where do I use this symbol?
This symbol can be used:
- In mathematical equations (math mode)
- In regular text (if using text mode)
- In various document environments
Can I use this in display mode?
Yes, symbols that work in math mode (between $ $) also work in display mode (between $$ $$). This allows you to display the symbol on its own line with larger formatting.
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