Multivector Review and Training Center

VECTOR ANALYSIS

Scalar quantities – quantities that are completely specified when their magnitudes
are given.
Examples: speed, distance, work, volume, mass, specific heat, gravitational
potential, time,. etc.

Vector quantities – quantities that require both magnitude and direction in order
to be completely specified.
Examples: velocity, displacement, momentum, weight, torque, centrifugal force,
electric field intensity, etc.

Vector Representation:
a. Graphically:
For example,
P

length - represents the magnitude

arrowhead – represents the direction

b. Analytically:

For ex. vector A can be represented as A or A.
 
Note: A is a vector with the same magnitude as A but opposite in
direction.

Unit Vector – is a vector having unit magnitude.

Cartesian Unit vectors i, j, k in 3D-space:

k
j

0
y
i

x
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Vector in 3D-space:

A (A1, A2, A3)

A3k
A1i y
0

A2j
x

A = A1i + A2j + A3k = A 1 , A 2 , A 3

where: A1, A2, and A3 are scalar components of A

i, j and k are unit vectors in the direction of increasing value of x, y and z,
respectively
A1i, A2j,and A3k are vector components of A.

Notes:
1. Zero or Null Vector – it has zero magnitude and direction is undefined or no
specific direction.
2. Equality of Vectors – two vectors are equal if and only if their corresponding
components are also equal.

Magnitude or length of A is denoted by A or A.

A  A 12  A 22  A 23

Unit Vector in the direction of A is denoted by A:

A A1i  A 2 j  A 3k
A  
A A 12  A 22  A 23

Position/Radius Vector – any vector starts from the origin which is usually
represented by r.

r = xi + yj + z

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(x, y, z)
r
zk y
xi
yj

x
r  r  x2  y 2  z2

Laws of Vector Algebra:

If A, B, and C are vectors and m and n are scalars then,
1. A+B=B+A
2. A+ (B + C) = (A + B) + C
3. mA = Am
4. m(nA) = (mn)A
5. (m + n)A = mA + nA
6. m(A + B) = mA + mB

Multiplication of Vectors:
Dot or Scalar Product
By definition,
B
A  B  A B cos 

A
where:  - smaller angle between A and B
0

Important Laws (Dot Product):

1. AB=BA
2. A  (B + C) = A  B + A  C

3. m(A  B) = (mA)  B = A  (mB) = (A  B)m (where m is a scalar)

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4. since i, j,and k are orthogonal

i  j = i k = j  k = (1)(1) cos 90o= 0
i  i = j  j = k  k = (1)(1) cos 0 =1

5. If A = A1i + A2j + A3k and B = B1i + B2j + B3k,

Then A  B = A1B1 + A2B2 + A3B3

6. A  A = A1(A1) + A2(A2) + A3(A3) = A12 + A22 + A32 = A2

ALSO,
B  B = B1(B1) + B2(B2) + B3(B3) = B12 + B22 + B32 = B2

7. If A  B = 0, where A and B are not null vectors, then A and B are

perpendicular.

Sample Application of Dot Product:

Scalar Projection of B unto A (SprojA B):
B


Sproj B A
A

S projetA B
cos  
B
S proj A B  B cos 
But
AB
cos  
A B

Therefore,
AB BA
S projA B    B   A1
A A

Similarly for scalar projection of A unto B is,

S projB A  A   B

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Note: If 90 <  < 180 (– scalar projection)

If 0 <  < 90 (+ scalar projection)

Vector Projection of B unto A (VprojA B) :

VprojA B A

 
VprojA B  S projA B  A   B   A  A 

Similarly for Vector Projection of A unto B is,

VprojB A  A   B  B 

Cross or Vector Product:

By definition,
A x B = ABsin n
AxB
AxB
where:  n 
AxB N
Then B

 AxB  Plane
A x B  A B sin    A
 AxB 
 
A x B  A B sin 

Important Laws(Cross Product):

1. A xB = -B x A ; B x A = -A x B
2. A x (B + C) = A x B + A x C
3. m(A x B) = (mA) x B = A x (mB) = (A x B)m, (where m is a scalar)
4. ixi=0 ixj=k i x k = -j
jxj=0 jxi=-k jxk=i
kxk=0 kxi=j k x j = -i
5. If A = A1i + A2j + A3k and B = B1i + B2j + B3k
A x B = (A2B3 – A3B2)i + (A3B1 – A1B3)j + (A1B2 – A2B1)k

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i j j
 A1 A2 A3
B1 B2 B3

6. A x A = 0 and B x B = 0
Also A x 0 = 0
0xA=0
7. If A = mB , it means A is parallel to B;
then  = 0 or  and we define A x B = 0

Sample Application of Cross Product:

Area of a Parallelogram with vector sides A and B;

B
h

A
A = A h
A = A B sin 

But ABsin  = A x B

Therefore,

A = A x B

Note: The area of triangle with vector sides A and B is ½ of the area of
parallelogram.

Thus,

A = ½ A x B

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Plane in 3D-space:

N = a, b, c
Po
y
P
x

PO  x o , y o , z o 
P  x, y , z 
PO P  x  x o , y  y o , z  z o
N  PO P, then N  PO P  0
a, b , c  x  x o , y  y o , z  z o
ax  x o   by  y o   cz  z o   0 (Standard Equation of a Plane)
ax  by  cz  ( ax o  by o  cz o )
ax  by  cz  d  0 (General Equation of a Plane)

Scalar Triple Product:

For example:
1. A  (B x C) = A  B x C
2. B  (C x A) = B  C x A
3. C  (A x B) = C  A x B

Notes:
1. The cross product must be evaluated first.
2. The parenthesis used in scalar triple product is not necessary.
3. The dot product and the cross symbol can be interchanged.

Some Important Laws in Scalar Triple Product:

1. AxBC=ABxC
2. AxBC=CAxB
3. ABxC=BCxA=CAxB
4. A  B x C = -B  A x C = -C  B x A = -A  C x B
5. A  A x C = A x A  C = 0, since A x A = 0
6. A  A x C = A  C x A = 0, since A x A = 0

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Volume of a Parallelepiped:

BxC A
C
N h
h = Sproj. of A
unto B x C
B

V= A (h)
= B x C(Scalar proj. of A unto B x C)
= B x C ( A   n)
 B x C 
 B x C A  AB x C
 B x C 


A1 A2 A3
V  A  B x C  B1 B2 B3
C1 C2 C3

Volume of Tetrahedron:
1
Vol . of Pyramid  ( Area of its base )(Height )
3
11 
Vol . of Tetrahedro n   A (S proj of A unto B x C)
32 
1
 vol . of Parallelepiped
6
1
Vol . of Tetrahedro n  AB x C
6

Vector Triple Product:

Example:
A x (B x C), (A x B) x C, etc.

Important Laws of Vector Triple Product:

1. A x (B x C)  (A x B) x C

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Showing the need for parentheses in A x B x C to avoid ambiguity.

2. A x (B x C) = (A  C)B – (A  B)C
ALSO,
(A x B) x C = (A  C)B – (B  C)A
3. A x (B x C) = - (B x C) x A

Differential Operator Del or Nebla()

  
i j k
x y z

If  (x, y, z) is a differential scalar field. Then the gradient of  is

  
  i j k
x y z

The Divergence:
If V(x, y, z) is a vector function with components whose first derivatives are
continuous in the domain of V, the divergence of V is given by

    
  V  i j k   (iV1  jV2  kV3 )
 x y z 
 
V V V
V  1  2  3
x y z

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