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there is a proof for $Q$ being a $3x3$ real matrix, and $v,w \ in \mathbb{R}^3$ that shows $(Qv) \cdot (Qw) = v \cdot w$.
It goes like this:
$(Qv) \cdot (Qw) = v \cdot (Q^{T}Qw) = v \cdot (Iw) = v \cdot w$.
I don't see how the first first equality goes to the next, as in, how does the $Q$ from the front of $v$ go into the bracket with $Qw$?

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The dot product of two vectors $v$ and $w$ is given by $v\cdot w = v^T w$. Therefore, $$(Qv)\cdot (Qw) = (Qv)^T(Qw) = v^TQ^TQw = v^Tw = v\cdot w$$

florence
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Kuldeep Singh's Linear Algebra: Step by Step (2013) pp 325-326 details this more. I don't affiliate Kuldeep Singh.

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