Vector Algebra

A quantity that has magnitude as well as direction is called a vector.

The point A from where the vector ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ 𝐴𝐵 starts is called its initial point, and the point B where it ends is called
its terminal point. The distance between initial and terminal points of a vector is called the magnitude (or
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ |, or |𝑎 |, or a. The arrow indicates the direction of the vector.
length) of the vector, denoted as |𝐴𝐵

Position Vector

The magnitude of ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

𝑂𝑃 (or ) 𝑟 is given by

Direction Cosines
Types of Vectors

Addition of Vectors

Properties of vector addition

1. For any two vectors 𝑎 and 𝑏⃗, 𝑎 + 𝑏⃗ = 𝑏⃗ + 𝑐 (Commutative law).

2. For any three vectors 𝑎 , ⃗⃗⃗
𝑏 and 𝑐, 𝑎 +( 𝑏⃗ + 𝑐 ) = ( 𝑎 + 𝑏⃗) + 𝑐 (Associative law).

Multiplication of a Vector by Scalar

Vector joining two points

Section formula
Case i) When R divides PQ internally

Case ii) When R divides PQ externally

Case iii) When R is the midpoint of PQ

Product of Two Vectors

Scalar (or dot) product of two vectors

The scalar product of two non zero vectors 𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗ denoted by 𝑎

⃗⃗⃗ and 𝑏 ⃗⃗⃗ is
⃗⃗⃗ . 𝑏
Vector (or cross) product of two vectors

⃗⃗⃗ and ⃗⃗⃗

The vector product of two non zero vectors 𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗ 𝑋 ⃗⃗⃗
𝑏 denoted by 𝑎 𝑏 is
 Exercise

1. From the figure given below

i. 𝑎 and 𝑐 are
a) Equal vectors b) Negative Vectors c) Unit Vectors d) Both a and c
ii. 𝑏⃗, 𝑑 and 𝑐 are
a) Equal vectors b) Coinitial Vectors c) collinear Vectors d) None
iii. 𝑎, 𝑑 and 𝑐 are
a) Equal vectors b) Coinitial Vectors c) collinear Vectors d) None
2. Find the value of x, y ,z so that the vectors 𝑎 = x𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ + z𝑘̂ and 𝑏⃗ = 2𝑖̂ + y𝑗̂ + 𝑘̂ are equal
a) 1,2,2 b) 2,2,1 c) 2,1,2 d) None
3. Find unit vector in the direction of vector 𝑎 = 2𝑖̂ + 3𝑗̂ + 𝑘̂
a) 1/√14(2𝑖̂ + 3𝑗̂ + 𝑘̂) b) 1/√15(2𝑖̂ + 3𝑗̂ + 𝑘̂) c) 1/√16(2𝑖̂ + 3𝑗̂ + 𝑘̂) d) None
4. Find a vector in the direction of vector 𝑎 = 𝑖̂ - 2𝑗̂ that has magnitude 7 units
a) 4/√5 ( 𝑖̂ ) - 13/√5 ( 𝑗̂ ) b) 3/√5 ( 𝑖̂ ) - 17/√5 ( 𝑗̂ ) c) 7/√5 ( 𝑖̂ ) - 14/√5 ( 𝑗̂ ) d) None
5. Find the unit vector in the direction of the sum of the vectors 𝑎 = 2𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ -5 𝑘̂ and 𝑏⃗ = 2𝑖̂ + 𝑗̂ +3 𝑘̂
a) 4/√29 ( 𝑖̂ ) + 3/√29 ( 𝑗̂ )- 2/√29 ( 𝑘̂ ) b) 4/√27 ( 𝑖̂ ) + 3/√27 ( 𝑗̂ )- 2/√27 ( 𝑘̂ )

c) 3/√29 ( 𝑖̂ ) + 4/√29 ( 𝑗̂ )- 4/√29 ( 𝑘̂ ) d) None

6. For the vector 𝑖̂ + 𝑗̂ - 2𝑘̂, calculate the direction cosines.

a) 1/√6, 1/√6, 2/√6 b) 2/√6, 2/√6, - 2/√6 c) 1/√6, 1/√6, - 2/√6 d) None
7. The vector joining the points P(2, 3, 0) and Q(– 1, – 2, – 4) directed from P to Q is
a) 2𝑖̂ + 3𝑗̂ + 𝑘̂ b) 4𝑖̂ + 3𝑗̂ +5 𝑘̂ c) -3𝑖̂ -5𝑗̂ -4 𝑘̂ d) None
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = 3𝑎 − 2𝑏⃗ and 𝑂𝑄
8. Two points P and Q with position vectors 𝑂𝑃 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = 𝑎 + 𝑏⃗ . Find the position vector of a
point R which divides the line joining P and Q in the ratio 2:1 internally is
a) 7𝑎/3 b) 11𝑎/3 c) 5𝑎/3 d) None
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = 3𝑎 − 2𝑏⃗ and 𝑂𝑄
9. Two points P and Q with position vectors 𝑂𝑃 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = 𝑎 + 𝑏⃗ . Find the position vector of a
point R which divides the line joining P and Q in the ratio 2:1 externally is
a) 6𝑏⃗ − 𝑎 b) 4𝑏⃗ − 𝑎 c) 8𝑏⃗ − 𝑎 d) None
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ , where P and Q are the points (1, 2, 3) and (4, 5, 6),
10. Find the unit vector in the direction of vector 𝑃𝑄
respectively.
 a) 1/√5𝑖̂ + 1/√5𝑗̂ + 1/√5 𝑘̂ b) 1/√3𝑖̂ + 1/√3𝑗̂ + 1/√3 𝑘̂ c) 1/√5𝑖̂ + 1/√5𝑗̂ + 1/√5 𝑘̂ d) None
11. Find the unit vector in the direction of the vector 𝑎 = 𝑖̂ + 𝑗̂ + 2𝑘̂
a) 1/√6𝑖̂ + 1/√6𝑗̂ + 1/√6 𝑘̂ b) 1/√3𝑖̂ + 1/√3𝑗̂ + 1/√3 𝑘̂ c) 1/√6𝑖̂ + 1/√6𝑗̂ + 2/√6 𝑘̂ d) None
12. For given vectors, 𝑎 =2 𝑖̂ - 𝑗̂ + 2𝑘̂ and 𝑏⃗ = - 𝑖̂ + 𝑗̂ - 𝑘̂, find the unit vector in the direction of the vector
𝑎 + 𝑏⃗
a) (1/2)𝑖̂ + 1/√2 𝑘̂ b) 1/√3𝑖̂ + 1/√3 𝑘̂ c) 1/√6𝑖̂ + 2/√6 𝑘̂ d) None
13. Find a vector in the direction of vector 5𝑖̂ - 𝑗̂ + 2𝑘̂
a) 4/√29 ( 𝑖̂ ) + 3/√29 ( 𝑗̂ )- 2/√29 ( 𝑘̂ ) b) 40/√30 ( 𝑖̂ ) - 80/√30 ( 𝑗̂ )+ 16/√30 ( 𝑘̂ )

c) 30/√29 ( 𝑖̂ ) - 4/√30 ( 𝑗̂ )- 4/√30 ( 𝑘̂ ) d) None

14. Find the direction cosines of the vector 𝑖̂ +2 𝑗̂ + 3𝑘̂

a) 1/√14, 2/√14, 3/√14 b) 2/√6, 2/√6, - 2/√6 c) 1/√6, 1/√6, - 2/√6 d) None
15. Find the direction cosines of the vector joining the points A(1, 2, –3) and B(–1, –2, 1), directed from A
to B.
a) 1/3, 2/3, 3/4 b) -1/3, -2/3, 2/3 c) 1/√6, 1/√6, - 2/√6 d) None
16. Find the angle between two vectors 𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏⃗ with magnitudes 1 and 2 respectively and when ⃗⃗⃗𝑎 . 𝑏⃗ =1.
a) π/2 b) π/3 c) π d) None
17. Find the angle θ between the vectors 𝑎 = 𝑖̂ + 𝑗̂ - 𝑘̂ and 𝑏⃗ = 𝑖̂ - 𝑗̂ + 𝑘̂
a) cos-1(-2/3) b) cos-1(-1/3) c) cos-1(-1/5) d) None
18. Find | 𝑎 X 𝑏⃗ |, if 𝑎 = 2𝑖̂ + 𝑗̂+3𝑘̂ and 𝑏⃗ = 3𝑖̂ + 5 𝑗̂ -2 𝑘̂
a) √207 b) √507 c) √607 d) None
19. Find the area of a triangle having the points A(1, 1, 1), B(1, 2, 3) and C(2, 3, 1) as its vertices.
a) 1/2 (√23) b) 1/2 (√25) c) 1/2 (√32) d) None
20. Find the area of a parallelogram whose adjacent sides are given by the vectors 𝑎 = 3𝑖̂ + 𝑗̂+4𝑘̂ and 𝑏⃗ = 𝑖̂ -
- 𝑗̂ + 𝑘̂
a) √53 b) √42 c) √32 d) None
21. Find the direction cosines of the vector 𝑖̂ +2 𝑗̂ + 3𝑘̂
a) 1/√14, 2/√14, 3/√14 b) 2/√6, 2/√6, - 2/√6 c) 1/√6, 1/√6, - 2/√6 d) None
22. Find the direction cosines of the vector joining the points A(1, 2, –3) and B(–1, –2, 1), directed from A
to B.
a) 1/3, 2/3, 3/4 b) -1/3, -2/3, 2/3 c) 1/√6, 1/√6, - 2/√6 d) None
23. Find the angle between two vectors 𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏⃗ with magnitudes 1 and 2 respectively and when ⃗⃗⃗𝑎 . 𝑏⃗ =1.
a) π/2 b) π/3 c) π d) None
24. Find the angle θ between the vectors 𝑎 = 𝑖̂ + 𝑗̂ - 𝑘̂ and 𝑏⃗ = 𝑖̂ - 𝑗̂ + 𝑘̂
a) cos-1(-2/3) b) cos-1(-1/3) c) cos-1(-1/5) d) None
25. Find | 𝑎 X 𝑏⃗ |, if 𝑎 = 2𝑖̂ + 𝑗̂+3𝑘̂ and 𝑏⃗ = 3𝑖̂ + 5 𝑗̂ -2 𝑘̂
a) √307 b) √507 c) √607 d) None