The University of Sydney

School of Mathematics and Statistics

Solutions to Tutorial Sheet, Week 1

MATH1014: Introduction to Linear Algebra Semester 2, 2021

Topics covered and aims

In lectures this week:

 Vectors in 2 and 3 dimensions.
 Adding vectors, geometrically and algebraically.
 Multiplying a vector by a number (scalar multiplication).
After completing this tutorial sheet you will be able to:
 draw vectors in R2 and R3 ;
 add vectors both geometrically and algebraically;

Statement of main definitions and theorems covered:

Vectors: A vector has both magnitude and length. It is drawn as a directed line segment.
• If A = (a1 , a2 ) is a point in R2 then the position vector of A is
 
−→ a
OA = 1 ,
a2

and similarly if A = (a1 , a2 , a3 ) is a point in R3 then

 
a
−→  1 
OA = a2
a3

• If A = (a1 , a2 ) and B = (b1 , b2 ) are points in R2 then

 
−→ b 1 − a1 −−→ −→
AB = = OB − OA,
b 2 − a2

and similarly if A = (a1 , a2 , a3 ) and B = (b1 , b2 , b3 ) are points in R3 .

   
2 1 0
Notation: In R we write i = and j = , and similarly in R3 we write
0 1
     
1 0 0
i = 0 , j = 1 , k = 0 .
    
0 0 1

Then  
a
 b  = ai + bj + ck.
c

Copyright © 2021 The University of Sydney 1

 Main Questions

−→
1. Let P be the point (−2, 1) in R2 , and let O = (0, 0) be the origin. Draw the vector v = OP as a
position vector in the plane. Now redraw the vector v with
(a) its tail at the point (2, 3),
(b) its head at the point (−1, −1).

Solution:

(2, 3)
•

•
(−1, −1)

Solution: test
   
5 −2
2. Let v = and w = . Express the following as both a column vector and in i, j notation.
0 4
(a) v + w
 
3
Solution: = 3i + 4j
4
(b) 3v
 
15
Solution: = 15i
0
(c) −2w
 
4
Solution: = 4i − 8j
−8
(d) v − 5w
 
15
Solution: = 15i − 20j
−20

2
 −→ −−→ −−→ −−→
3. The edges of the square ABCD are marked by vectors AB, BC, AD, DC, as shown.

A B

D C

Decide if the follow are true of false:

−→ −−→
(a) AB = BC
Solution: false
−→ −−→
(b) AB = CD
Solution: false
−−→ −−→
(c) AD = BC
Solution: true
−→ −−→ −−→
(d) AC = BC + DC
Solution: true

4. Draw the vectors a + b and a − b on each diagram.

Solution:

a+b
a+b
b b
a−b
a−b

a a

5. In each diagram below, find the unknown vector in terms of a and b.

b ? b ? b ?

a a a

Solution:

b a−b b b−a b a+b

a a a

3
6. Let P = (−2, 1), Q = (2, 2), R = (1, −3) and O = (0, 0) be points in R2 .
−→ −→ −→ −→ −→ −→
(a) Draw a sketch showing the vectors: OP , OQ, OR, P Q, QR, P R.
Solution:

−→ Q
PQ

O
−→
−→ QR
PR

(b) Write each of the vectors in part (a) as a column vector.

         
−→ −2 −→ 2 −→ 1 −→ 2 − (−2) 4
Solution: OP = , OQ = , OR = , PQ = = ,
    1 2  −3
   2 − 1 1
−→ 1−2 −1 −→ 1 − (−2) 3
QR = = and P R = = .
−3 − 2 −5 −3 − 1 −4
−→ −→ −→
(c) Using the column vectors in part (b), verify that P Q + QR = P R
       
−→ −→ 4 −1 4−1 3 −→
Solution: P Q + QR = + = = = PR
1 −5 1−5 −4

7. Simplify the following vector expressions.

1
(a) 3a + 2b − 4(b + a)
2
Solution: a − 2b
(b) −(w − 6z) − 2w + v − 2z
Solution: v − 3w + 4z

4
 −→ −−→
8. Let ABCDEF be a regular hexagon and let a = AB and b = BC. Find vector expressions in terms
of a and b for the vectors
−−→ −−→ −→ −→
CD, DE, EF , F A.

Solution:
a
A B
b −−→
CD = b − a,
−−→
DE = −a,
F C −→
EF = −b,
−→
F A = a − b.

E D
   
1 4
9. Let a = 2 and b = −2.
  
3 0
(a) Find the vectors −a, 3b, a + 2b, 3a − 5b.
       
−1 12 9 −17
Solution: −2, −6, −2,  16 .
−3 0 3 9
(b) If the vector a is drawn in R3 with its head at the point (0, 0, 0), where is its tail?
Solution: At the point (−1, −2, −3).
(c) If the vector b is drawn in R3 with its tail at the point (−1, 0, 7), where is its head?
Solution: At the point (3, −2, 7).

10. Let P = (2, −1, 3), Q = (0, 4, 5) and R = (−1, 0, −6) be points in R3 .
−→ −→ −→
Let u = P Q, v = QR and w = P R. Write u, v and w as column vectors and in i, j, k notation.
       
0−2 −2 −1 − 0 −1
Solution: u = 4 − (−1) =  5  = −2i + 5j + 2k, v =  0 − 4  =  −4  = −i − 4j − 11k,
  5 −  3 2 −6 − 5 −11
−1 − 2 −3
w = 0 − (−1) = 1  = −3i + j − 9k.
  
−6 − 3 −9

Challenging questions
−→
11. Using P Q notation, prove that if a, b and c are any vectors, then
a + (b + c) = (a + b) + c.

Solution: Suppose that the vectors have been lined up so that the the point P is at the tail of a,
the point Q is at the tip of a and at the tail of b, the point R is at the tip of b and at the tail of c,
and the point S is at the tip of c. Then
−→ −→ −→ −→ −→
a + (b + c) = P Q + (QR + RS) = P Q + QS
−→
= PS
−→ −→ −→ −→ −→
= P R + RS = (P Q + QR) + RS = (a + b) + c.

5
12. Consider a triangle ABC. Let P be the midpoint of the side AB and let Q be the midpoint of the
side BC. Use vectors to prove that the line segment P Q is parallel to the side AC and is half the
length of AC.

Q
P

−→ 1 −→ −−→ 1 −→
Solution: We can prove that this is the case by showing that P Q = AC. Now, P B = AB and
2 2
−−→ 1 −−→ −→ −−→ −−→ 1 −→ 1 −−→ 1 −→ −−→ 1 −→
BQ = BC, so P Q = P B + BQ = AB + BC = (AB + BC) = AC as required.
2 2 2 2 2