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Vectors Lecture PDF
Vectors Lecture PDF
May 2, 2009
Abstract
Vectors are those mathematical structures that have magnitude and
direction associated with them. To master vectors is to think them as
coordinates in 3D geometry.
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Contents
I Theory, Discussion & Formulae
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14 Useful Formulae
15 Area & Volume of geometrical structures
16 Vector Geometry
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CONTENTS
CONTENTS
14
14
II Problems
15
18 Level I Problems
19 Level 2 problems
15
15
5 COLLINEAR VECTORS
Part I
2 Types of Vectors
3 Length of a vector
Length of a vector or Modulus of a vector say |a| which is the position vector
is distance of the point from origin. Or if for any vector AB , |AB| is distance
between the points A & B.
Given position vector a
= a1i + a2 j + a3 k then |
a| =
p
a21 + a22 + a33
|AB| = |b a
|
Given any vector joining A & B points,
p
= (b1 a1 )2 + (b2 a2 )2 + (b3 a3 )2
4 Equality of vectors
Two vectors are equal if have same direction and magnitude.
5 Collinear vectors
Two vectors are collinear if they have the same direction.
If they turn to have the same magnitude as well then they become equal
vectors.
4
6 Coplanar vectors
Two vectors are coplanar if they lie in the same plane. Any two vectors are
always coplanar if they have the same starting point.
If a
& b are collinear vectors. i.e. they are having the same direction,
This analysis above shows that linear combination has the power to
produce new vectors. If both the vectors are in line means collinear
then the linear combination will produce the new vector in the same
line. But here two vectors are not really required. So
to produce a new vector in the same line linear combination is a
to produce a new vector in the plane containing two vectors. If
these two vectors lie in the same line means are collinear then the
linear combination will produce another vector in the same line.
But we want to produce another vector in the plane. So we need
two non-collinear vectors. Hence a + b will produce the new
vector in the plane. And for dierent values of & any vector
in that plane containing a & can be produced.
to produce a new vector in the 3D space containing three vectors.
If these three vectors are coplanar then the linear combination will
produce a new vector in the plane containing these three vectors.
Hence a + b + c will produce the new vector in the 3D space
if all three vectors are non-coplanar.
NOTE: Number of vectors under some condition required for producing new
vectors is always equal to the dimension of the space.
Now we come to the point of denining what is linear independence?
Linear-Independence - Given vectors are linearly independent if one cannot be produced from the other.
Linear-Dependence - Given Vectors are said to be linearly dependent if
one can be produced from the other.
11 PRODUCT IN VECTORS
2 dimensional space (i.e plane) we require two linearly independent vec-
vectors to produce a new vector. So three vectors are linearly independent in 3D space means they are non-coplanar.
So now you should know why the idea of linear independence is constructed
? or why we study that ?
Purely since we want to know what is that condition that is required to
produce new vectors in n-dimensional space! And how we can extend the
idea of non-collinear & non-coplanar into higher dimension. So ultimately is
nothing but non-collinearity & non-coplanarity.
(b) BC = CD
2. Four points A,B,C & D are coplanar i
(a) there exists x,y,z & w not all zero such that
i. xa + yb + zc + wd = 0
ii. x + y + z + w = 0
(b) There exists , not both zero such that AB + AC = AD is
true.
11 Product in Vectors
a = b tells |
a| = |b| and another crucial info of they both pointing in
the same direction. Whenver we have vectors thinking of them in terms of
lines containing those vectors helps. So two vectors are collinear means lines
containing these two vectors is parellel.
7
11 PRODUCT IN VECTORS
a
b = b a
; dot product is commutative
We cant talk about associativity since three vectors having dot product
i j k
a1 a2 a3
b1 b2 b3
|
a b|2 + (
a b)2 = |
a|2 |b|2 Lagrange's identity. Relation between cross
Area of a parellogram = |
a b|
Area of a Triangle =
|
ab|
2
a1 a2 a3
If a
, b, c are represented using i, j, k then a
b c = b1 b2 b3
c1 c2 c3
a
b c = a
b c -interchange the & values remains same.
[
a b c] = a
b c
[
a b c] = [b c a
] = [
ca
b] = [
a c b] change them cyclically and they
all have same value, the order is changed and the sign changes.
Geometrically [
a b c] represents volume of a parellopiped with edges
a
, b & c
So 0 = [
a b a
] represents area of a parellopiped with edges which are
For any four coplanar points (note this are points and not vectors)
ab] + [db
ca
given by position vector a,
b, c & d we have [
ab
c] = [d
c] + [d
]
(can be proved by the fact that vectors AB, AC, & AD are coplanar.
Way to remember :
in the bracket.
a
(b c)
Let r = a (b c).
r a
& r b c
i.e. r lies in the plane of b & c
i.e. r = b + c
i.e. a r = 0 = (a b) + (a c)
ac = ab = k (assume)
r = k(
a c)b + k(
a b)
c = k((
a c)b (
a b)
c)
Value of k can be found out by trying values of a = i, b = j & c = i
= j
r = a
(b c) = i (j i) = i (k)
r = k((i i)j (i j)i) = k(j 0) = kj
Equating r we get k = 1
13 SOLVING PROBLEMS-PART I
a
b
|b|
|
ab|
|b|
Component of a
along b =
Component of a
b =
(
ab)b
|b|2
b(
ab)
|b|2
=a
(
ab)b
|b|2
13 Solving Problems-Part I
13.1 Solving Vectors Equations
a
+ b = 3
c
|
a + b| =| 3
c|
2
2
|
a + b| =| 3
c|
(
a + b) (
a + b) =3
c c
|
a|2 + |b|2 + 2
a b =3|
c|2
2 + 2
a b =3
1
|
a||b| cos =
2
=
3
Alternate-Solution
: Another way to look this problem is by sym
metry. In a + b + 3c = 0 terms a & b are very symmetric. Given
|
a| = |b| = 1 So the problem is problem of statics. The forces
are all balanced hence
Therefore we get,
along one component.
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14 USEFUL FORMULAE
14 Useful Formulae
1. |a b|2 + (a b)2 = |a|2 |b|2
LHS = |ab|2 +(ab)2 = |a|2 |b|2 sin2 +|a|2 |b|2 cos2 = |a|2 |b|2 =RHS
2. |a b| |a||b|
Solution : |a b| = |a||b| | sin ||n| |a||b|
3. |a b| |a||b|
Solution : |a b| = |a||b|| cos | |a||b|
c a
d
= a
4. (a b) (c d)
b d b d
Solution :Let n = c d
LHS = a
b n
=a
b n
=a
b (
c d)
c (b c)d}
=a
{(b d)
a c) (b c)(
= (b d)(
a d)
= RHS
5.
= [
c [
(
a b) (
c d)
a b d]
a b c]d
b [b c d]
a
= [
a c d]
Solution :Let n = a b
LHS = n
(
c d)
c (
= (
n d)
n c)d
c [
= [
a b d]
a b c]d
[
r b c]
a
[
a b c]
[
r c a
]
r a
b]
b + [
c
[
a b c]
[
a b c]
16 VECTOR GEOMETRY
1
a
6 [
b c]
1
a
2 [
b c]
16 Vector Geometry
is derived as
r = a
+ AB = a
+ (b a
) = (1 )
a + b
Slope point form : Equation of a line passing through the point A(
a)
12
16 VECTOR GEOMETRY
or
[
r b c] = [
a b c]
or
r (
a b + b c + c a
) = a
b c
1
r n
= p
|
n|
13
AZ
ZB .
Using school
AZ
AY
p1 p0
a
n
p0
=
=
=
ZB
AX
p0 p2
bn
p0
b c
c a
a
b
,
q
=
&
r
=
[
ab
c]
[
ab
c]
[
ab
c]
14
19 LEVEL 2 PROBLEMS
Part II
Problems
18 Level I Problems
1. Which of the following makes sense?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
b) c
(a
a
b c
a
(b c)
(
a b)
c
(
a b)
c
e
(
a b) (
c d)
r a
& r b
r a
or r b
r & a
b are collinear vectors
none of these
1
abc
0
none of these
19 Level 2 problems
1. Derive following in triangles using vectors
(a) a cos B + b cos A = c
(b) a2 = b2 + c2 2bc cos A
(c) sina A = sinb B = sinc C
(d) = 12 bc sin A
2. Prove pythogoras theorem
(a) i.e. prove if angle A is 2 then b2 + c2 = a2
(b) and also prove the converse of the theorem.
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