Basic Mathematics

Introduction to Vectors
R Horan & M Lavelle The aim of this document is to provide a short, self assessment programme for students who wish to acquire a basic understanding of vectors.

Copyright c 2004 [email protected] , [email protected] Last Revision Date: December 21, 2004 Version 1.0

Table of Contents
1. 2. 3. 4. Vectors (Introduction) Addition of Vectors Component Form of Vectors Quiz on Vectors Solutions to Exercises Solutions to Quizzes

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Section 1: Vectors (Introduction)

1. Vectors (Introduction)
A vector is a combination of three things: a positive number called its magnitude, a direction in space, a sense making more precise the idea of direction. Typically a vector is illustrated as a directed straight line. B A Diagram 1 The vector in the above diagram would be written as AB with: the direction of the arrow, from the point A to the point B, indicating the sense of the vector, the magnitude of AB given by the length of AB. The magnitude of AB is written |AB |. There are very many physical quantities which are best described as vectors; velocity, acceleration and force are all vector quantities.

Section 1: Vectors (Introduction)

Two vectors are equal if they have the same magnitude, the same direction (i.e. they are parallel) and the same sense. B1 A1 B A Diagram 2 In diagram 2 the vectors AB and A1 B1 are equal, i.e. AB=A1 B1 . If two vectors have the same length, are parallel but have opposite senses then one is the negative of the other. B A B2 A2 Diagram 3 In diagram 3 the vectors AB and B2 A2 are of equal length, are parallel but are opposite in sense, so AB= B2 A2 .

Section 1: Vectors (Introduction)

B Quiz Diagram 4 shows a parallelogram. Which of the following equations is the correct one? D (a) DA=BC, (b) AD= CB, (c) AD=CB, A

C Diagram 4 (d) DA= CB.

If two vectors are parallel, have the same sense but dierent magnitudes then one vector is a scalar (i.e. numeric) multiple of the other. B3 A3 In diagram 5 the vector AB is parB A allel to A3 B3 , has the same sense but Diagram 5 is twice as long, so AB= 2 A3 B3 . In general multiplying a vector by a positive number gives a vector parallel to the original vector, with the same sense but with magnitude times that of the original. If is negative then the sense is reversed. Thus from diagram 5 for example, A3 B3 = 1 BA. 2

Section 2: Addition of Vectors

2. Addition of Vectors
In diagram 6 the three vectors given by AB ,BC, and AC, make up the sides of a triangle as shown. Referring to this diagram, the law of addition for vectors, which is usually known as the triangle law of addition, is AB + BC=AC . The vector AC is called the resultant vector. A Diagram 6 C

Physical quantities which can be described as vectors satisfy such a law. One such example is the action of forces. If two forces are represented by the vectors AB and BC then the eect of applying both of these forces together is equivalent to a single force, the resultant force, represented by the vector AC. One further vector is required, the zero vector. This has no direction and zero magnitude. It will be written as 0.

Section 2: Addition of Vectors

C Example 1 (The mid-points theorem) Let ABC be a triangle and let D D E be the midpoint of AC and E be the midpoint of BC. Prove that A B DE is parallel to AB and half its Diagram 7 length i.e. |AB| = 2|DE|. Proof Since D is the midpoint of AC, it follows that AC= 2 DC. Similarly CB= 2 CE. Then AC + CB = 2 DC +2 CE = 2(DC + CE) . AC + CB=AB DC + CE=DE. Now and Substituting these into the equation above gives AB= 2 DE . Since these are vectors, AB must be parallel to DE and the length of AB is twice that of DE, i.e. |AB | = 2|DE |.

Section 3: Component Form of Vectors

3. Component Form of Vectors

C The diagram shows a vector OC at an angle to the x axis. Take i to be a vector of length 1 (called a unit vector) parallel to the x axis and in the positive direction, and j to be a vector of length 1 (another unit vector) parallel to the y axis and in the positive direction. j O A i Diagram 8

From diagram 8, OC=OA + AC. The vector OA is parallel to the vector i and four times its length so OA= 4i. Similarly AC= 3j. Thus the vector OC may be written as OC= 4i + 3j . This is known as the 2-dimensional component form of the vector. In general every vector can be written in component form. This package will consider only 2-dimensional vectors.

Section 3: Component Form of Vectors

9
B 4 3

Exercise 1. From diagram 9, write down the component form of the following vectors: (Click on the green letters for solutions.) (a) OA, (c) OC, (b) OB, (d) OD,

O 4 5

Diagram 9 In this package, the following properties of vectors are used. To add two or more vectors in component form, add the corresponding components. To multiply a vector in component form by a scalar, multiply each of the components by the scalar. If a vector in component form is ai + bj then its mag nitude is a2 + b2 . (Pythagoras theorem)

Section 3: Component Form of Vectors

10
C

Example 3 If AB= 2i + 2j and BC= i + 2j, prove that the magnitude of AC is 5.

A B

Proof Diagram 10 The three vectors form three sides of a triangle (see diagram 10 which is NOT to scale) so AC = AB + BC = (2i + 2j) + (1i + 2j) = (2i + 1i) + (2j + 2j) = 3i + 4j . Thus | AC | = 32 + 42 = 5. NB Vectors are often printed as boldface lower case letters such as a. Exercise 2. If a = i + 3j, b = 2i + 3j and c = i 2j, calculate: (a) a + b, (b) b + c, (c) a + b + c, (d) a + 2b, (g) |a + b|, (e) 2b 3a, (h) |a| + |b|, (f) |a|, (i) |2a b|,

Section 3: Component Form of Vectors

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Example 4 Two vectors are AB= i + j and CD= 2i + 3j. Find (a) The value of such that AB + CD is parallel to i, (b) The value of such that AB + CD is parallel to 4i + 3j. Solution First nd AB + CD in component form. AB + CD = (i + j) + (2i + 3j) = (i + j) + (2i + 3j) = ( + 2)i + ( + 3)j .

(a) If AB + CD is parallel to i then the j component must be zero, i.e. + 3 = 0. Thus = 3 and we have 3 AB + CD= i. (b) If AB + CD is parallel to 4i + 3j then there is a number such that ( + 2)i + ( + 3)j = (4i + 3j) ( + 2)i + ( + 3)j = 4i + 3kj so + 2 = 4 and + 3 = 3 .

Section 3: Component Form of Vectors

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Then

+2 +3 3( + 2) 3 + 6 6 12 i.e.

= = = = =

4 4 = 3 3 4( + 3) 4 + 12 4 3 6 ,

and the vector is 6(i + j) + (2i + 3j) = 4i 3j = (4i + 3j). Quiz If a = 2i + 3j, b = 3i + 2j and c = 2i j, which of the following vectors is parallel to the resultant of a, b and c, i.e. a + b + c? (a) 2i 6j, (b) 2i 6j, (c) 2i + 8j, (d) 2i 8j. Quiz If a = i + j and b = i j, for which of the following values of is the vector a + b parallel to c = 2i 3j? 1 1 (a) = , (b) = , (c) = 5, (d) = 5. 5 5

Section 4: Quiz on Vectors

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4. Quiz on Vectors
Choose the correct option for each of the following. Begin Quiz 1. If a = 2i + 4j, b = 3i 2j, c = 4i + 5j then a + b + c is (a) 5i 7j , (b) 5i 7j , (c) 5i + 7j , (d) 5i + 7j .

2. If u = 2i + 4j, v = 3i + 2j, w = 4i + 6j then |u + v + w| is (a) 5 , (b) 13 , (c) 4 , (d) 15 .

3. If u = i+3j and v = i+2j, then u+v is parallel to w = i+4j if is (a) 6 , End Quiz (b) 6 , (c) 5 , (d) 5 .

Solutions to Exercises

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Solutions to Exercises
Exercise 1(a) For the vector OA shown on the diagram the component in the direction given by the unit vector i is 5 and the component in the direction j is 3. Therefore the 2-dimensional vector OA is, in component form, written as OA= 5i + 3j . Click on the green square to return
B 4 3

O 4 5

Solutions to Exercises

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Exercise 1(b) The vector OB shown on the diagram has the component 5 in the i direction while the component in the j direction is 4. Thus the 2-dimensional vector OB in component form is written as OB= 5i + 4j . Click on the green square to return
B 4 3 A

O 4 5

Solutions to Exercises

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Exercise 1(c) For the vector OC shown on the diagram the component in the direction given by the unit vector i is 2 while the component in the direction given by j is 4. Therefore the component form of the 2-dimensional vector OC is OC= 2i 4j . Click on the green square to return
B 4 3

O 4 5

Solutions to Exercises

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Exercise 1(d) For the vector OD shown on the diagram the component in the direction given by the unit vector i is 5 and the component in the direction given by j is also 5. The component form of the 2dimensional vector OD is therefore OC= 5i 5j . Click on the green square to return

4 3

O 4 5

Solutions to Exercises

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Exercise 2(a) The sum of the two vectors a = i + 3j and b = 2i + 3j

is found by summing up the corresponding components of each vector. Thus a + b = (i + 3j) + (2i + 3j) = (1 + 2)i + (3 + 3)j = i + 6j . Click on the green square to return

Solutions to Exercises

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Exercise 2(b) The sum of the two vectors b = 2i + 3j and c = i 2j

is found by adding the corresponding components of each vector. Thus b + c = (2i + 3j) + (i 2j) = (2 + 1)i + (3 2)j = 3i + j . Click on the green square to return

Solutions to Exercises

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Exercise 2(c) To nd the sum of the three vectors a = i + 3j , b = 2i + 3j and c = i 2j ,

add the corresponding components of each vector. The resulting vector is thus a+b+c = (i + 3j) + (2i + 3j) + (i 2j) = (1 + 2 + 1)i + (3 + 3 2)j = 2i + 4j .

Click on the green square to return

Solutions to Exercises

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Exercise 2(d) To nd the sum a + 2b with a = i + 3j rst nd the vector 2b: 2 b = 2 (2i + 3j) = 4i + 6j . The vector a + 2b is now found by adding the corresponding components of each vector. The resulting vector is thus a + 2b = (i + 3j) + (4i + 6j) = (1 + 4)i + (3 + 6)j = 3i + 9j . Click on the green square to return and b = 2i + 3j ,

Solutions to Exercises

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Exercise 2(e) To nd the vector 2b 3a with a = i + 3j rst nd the vectors 2b and 3a: 2 b = 2 (2i + 3j) = 4i + 6j , 3 a = 3 (i + 3j) = 3i + 9j , The vector 2b3a is now easily found by subtracting the components of these vectors: 2b 3a = (4i + 6j) (3i + 9j) = (4 + 3)i + (6 9)j = 7i 3j . Click on the green square to return and b = 2i + 3j ,

Solutions to Exercises

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Exercise 2(f ) The magnitude of the vector a = i + 3j is given by |a| = (1)2 + 32 =

1+9=

10 .

Click on the green square to return

Solutions to Exercises

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Exercise 2(g) To nd the magnitude of the vector a + b, rst nd the sum of the two vectors a = i + 3j The resulting vector is a + b = (i + 3j) + (2i + 3j) = (1 + 2)i + (3 + 3)j = i + 6j . The magnitude of this vector is given by |a + b| = 12 + 62 = 37 . and b = 2i + 3j .

Click on the green square to return

Solutions to Exercises

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Exercise 2(h) To nd |a| + |b|, rst nd the magnitude of each of the vectors a = i + 3j and b = 2i + 3j. The magnitude of the vector a is |a| = (1)2 + 32 = 10 . The magnitude of the vector b is |b| = Therefore 22 + 32 = 13 .

|a| + |b| = 10 + 13 . Click on the green square to return

Solutions to Exercises

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Exercise 2(i) To nd |2a b|, rst nd 2a b. The vector a in component form is given as a = i + 3j so the component form of the vector 2a is 2a = 2 (1)i + 2 3j = 2i + 6j . The dierence between 2a and b = 2i + 3j is the vector 2a b = (2i + 6j) (2i + 3j) = (2 2)i + (6 3)j = 4i + 3j . The magnitude of the resulting vector 2a b is therefore |2a b| = (4)2 + 32 = 25 = 5 . Click on the green square to return

Solutions to Quizzes

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Solutions to Quizzes
Solution to Quiz: According to the diagram shown opposite the magnitudes of the vectors AD and CB are equal, but the direction of the vector AD is from the point A to the point D, while the direction of the vector CB is opposite, from the point B to the point C. Therefore AD= CB .

B A

C D

If checked, the other solutions will be found to be false.

End Quiz

Solutions to Quizzes

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Solution to Quiz: In order to determine which of the vectors is parallel to the resultant of a, b and c, the resultant must rst be calculated. The resultant of the three vectors a = 2i + 3j , is a+b+c = (2i + 3j) + (3i + 2j) + (2i j) = (2 3 + 2)i + (3 + 2 1)j = i + 4j . b = 3i + 2j and c = 2i j .

Next note that the vector 2i+8j given in the answer (c) can be written as 2i + 8j = 2 (i + 4j) = 2(a + b + c) , so the resultant is parallel to the vector 2i + 8j. End Quiz

Solutions to Quizzes

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Solution to Quiz: To nd the value of for which a + b parallel to c = 2i 3j, rst calculate the former. If a = i + j and b = i j then a + b = (i + j) + (i j) = ( + 1)i + ( 1)j . If this vector is parallel to the vector c = 2i3j then there is a number k such that ( + 1)i + ( 1)j = k(2i 3j) . This holds when + 1 = 2k and 1 = 3k . Multiply the rst equation by 3 3 + 3 = 6k , and the second one by 2 2 2 = 6k . Now add the left and right sides of these equations to obtain: 1 5 + 1 = 0 , thus = . 5 End Quiz