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Vectors Part 1 (O Level Maths) : Composed With Epsilon Notes in Android

This document defines vectors and their representation on a Cartesian plane. It discusses: 1) A vector has both magnitude and direction and is represented by an arrow between two points on a plane. 2) Vectors can be written in different notations and their values given as a column matrix of displacements. 3) The direction of a vector is important - the negative of a vector points in the opposite direction. That's a high-level three sentence summary of the key points about vectors from the document.

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Takudzwa McDonald Manema
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159 views

Vectors Part 1 (O Level Maths) : Composed With Epsilon Notes in Android

This document defines vectors and their representation on a Cartesian plane. It discusses: 1) A vector has both magnitude and direction and is represented by an arrow between two points on a plane. 2) Vectors can be written in different notations and their values given as a column matrix of displacements. 3) The direction of a vector is important - the negative of a vector points in the opposite direction. That's a high-level three sentence summary of the key points about vectors from the document.

Uploaded by

Takudzwa McDonald Manema
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Composed with Epsilon Notes in Android

Vectors part 1 (O level Maths)


This tutorial is about O level vectors for Zimsec and Cambridge students. First we are going to
define a vector, then represent it on a Cartesian plane and finally calculate problems involving
vectors.

Vector representation
A vector is a quantity that has both magnitude (size, length or modulus) an direction. On a
Cartesian plane, a vector is represented as a arrow joining two points.

→ which represents the displacement from point A(1; 2) to


The diagram above shows a vector AB
point B(5; 3).

A vector can be written in many ways:

either AB ¯ → , AB
, AB
→, a
or ā, a

The values of a vector are usually given as a column matrix. On the diagram above, there are
dashed lines showing the horizontal displacement (in the x-axis) and vertical displacement (in the
y-axis) of the vector. From the diagram we can see from the dashed lines that x = 4 units and y = 1
unit. In column form, the vector is represented as:
→
AB = (
4
)
1

Negative vectors

When dealing with vectors, direction is very important. For example, AB¯
and BA
¯
are not the
same because they are going in opposite directions. BA ¯
is negative of AB
¯
.

→
This means that if AB = (
4
)
1

→
Then BA = (
−4
)
−1

→ = - AB
Which therefore means AB →

Magnitude

The magnitude of a vector (also known as the modulus) is the length or size of the vector.

→ is usually shortened to |AB


Magnitude of AB → |.

Magnitude = √x2 + y
2

→ | = √4
Using our earlier example, |AB
2
+ 1
2

= √17 (in surd form)

The modulus of a vector is always positive.

→ .
Now let us find the modulus of BA

→ | = √(−4)2
|BA + (−1)
2

= √17

Scalar multiplication

→ is multiplied a scalar k, whereby k is any number, the resulting vector is a vector k


If vector AB
→ and parallel to AB
times as big as AB → .

→ is 5 times as big as vector AB


For example, vector 5 AB → and also parallel to vector AB
→ .

Addition and Subtraction

Vectors can be added and subtracted as follows:


and →
5 1
→
If a = ( ) b = ( )
2 6

→ + →b
5 1
then a = ( ) + ( )
2 6

6
= ( )
8

→ + →b
5 1
and a = ( ) − ( )
2 6

4
= ( )
−4

Position vectors
A position vector is a vector that is tied to the origin. Let us illustrate it using a diagram.

→ . By the same token, the position vector


If we have a point A, the position vector of point A is OA
→ .
of point B is OB

x
Now if a point has the coordinates (x; y), its position vector is ( ) .
y

Therefore, using the diagram above we can see that:


1
the position vector of A = OA = ( ) since A has the coordinates (1; 2)
2

5
the position vector of B = OB = ( ) since B has the coordinates (5; 3)
3

→b = OA
→
c
→
→ = OB
→ = AB
a
→

→ followed by OB
Now here is the thing about vectors, a displacement of AO → is equivalent to a
→ .
resultant displacement of AB

→
Therefore AB →
= AO + OB
→

→ →
AB = AO + OB
→

→
AB = (
−1
) + (
5
)
−2 3

→
AB = (
4
)
1

by Sydney Chako for https://sytech.co.zw

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