Math 2011-Introduction to Multivariable Calculus (Edited by Dr.

Hon-Ming HO)
Practice Exercises 2: Vectors in the 𝒙𝒚𝒛-Coordinate System

Exercise 1:

Let 𝑢
⃗ =< 3 , −2 > and 𝑣⃑ =< −2 ,5 > . Find the component form and magnitude (length) of the following vectors:

a) 3𝑢⃗⃑
b) 𝑢
⃗⃑ + 𝑣⃑
c) 2𝑢⃗⃑ − 3𝑣⃑

Solution to Exercise 1:

Part a): The component form of 3𝑢

⃗⃑ is given by 3𝑢
⃗⃑ = 3 < 3 , −2 >=< 3(3) , 3(−2) >=< 9 , −6 > whose length is given by
√92 + (−6)2 = √117 = 3√13 . Part b): The component form of 𝑢
⃗⃑ + 𝑣⃑ is given by

⃗⃑ + 𝑣⃑ =< 3 , −2 > +< −2 ,5 >=< 3 + (−2) , −2 + 5 >=< 1 , 3 > .

𝑢

⃗⃑ + 𝑣⃑ is given by √12 + 32 = √10 . Part c): The component form of 2𝑢

The length of 𝑢 ⃗⃑ − 3𝑣⃑ is given by

⃗⃑ − 3𝑣⃑ = 2 < 3 , −2 > −3 < −2 ,5 >=< 2(3) , 2(−2) > +< (−3)(−2) , (−3)(5) >=< 12 , −19 > .
2𝑢

⃗⃑ − 3𝑣⃑ is given by √122 + (−19)2 = √505 .

The length of 2𝑢

Exercise 2:

Find the component form of the sum of ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃑

𝐴𝐵 and ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃑
𝐶𝐷 where 𝐴 = (1 , −1) , 𝐵 = (𝟐 , 𝟎) and 𝐶 = (−1 , 3) , 𝐷 = (−𝟐 , 𝟐) .

Solution to Exercise 2:

1) Things to do: To perform vector addition of the two desired vectors, we first find the component forms of the two vectors.
Identify which point is the initial point and which point is the terminal point of the concerned vector. In this exercise, for the
vector ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃑
𝐴𝐵 , the point 𝐴 is the initial point and point 𝐵 is the terminal point. So their component forms are
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃑
𝐴𝐵 =< 𝟐 − 1 , 𝟎 − (−1) >=< 1 , 1 > 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃑
𝐶𝐷 =< −𝟐 − (−1) , 𝟐 − 3 >=< −1 , −1 > .
2) Things to do: Use the computed component form to perform vector addition.
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃑
𝐴𝐵 + ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃑
𝐶𝐷 =< 1 ,1 > +< −1 , −1 >=< 1 + (−1) ,1 + (−1) >=< 0 ,0 > .

Exercise 3:

a) ⃗⃑ .
Find a vector of magnitude 7 in the direction of 𝑣⃑ = 12𝑖⃑ − 5𝑘
1 1 1
⃗⃑ .
b) Find a vector of magnitude 3 in the direction opposite to direction of 𝑣⃑ = ( ) 𝑖⃑ − ( ) 𝑗⃑ − ( )𝑘
2 2 2

Solution to Exercise 3:

⃗⃑ . You may check that the length of vector

It is a common mistake to say that the desired vector in part a) is 7𝑣⃑ = 7(12)𝑖⃑ − 7(5)𝑘
⃗⃑ is given by |7𝑣⃑| = √(7 ∙ 12)2 + (−7 ∙ 5)2 = 91 which is not equal to magnitude 7. The reason is that the
7𝑣⃑ = 7(12)𝑖⃑ − 7(5)𝑘
length of the vector 𝑣⃑ is not equal to 1 unit. To find the desired vector, we divide the vector 𝑣⃑ by its length at the first step.

a) Things to do: Compute the length of the given vector 𝑣⃑ . Then divide it by its length to make a unit vector having the
𝑣⃗⃑ 1
same direction as 𝑣⃑ . In part a), we obtain the unit vector = ⃗⃑ ) = (12) 𝑖⃑ − ( 5 ) 𝑘
(12𝑖⃑ − 5𝑘 ⃗⃑ .
|𝑣⃗⃑| √(12)2 +(−5)2 13 13
b) Things to do: To obtain the desired vector, multiply the unit vector obtain in part a) by the given magnitude. In part a),
𝑣⃗⃑ 84 35
⃗⃑ .
the desired vector is given by 7 (|𝑣⃗⃑|) = ( ) 𝑖⃑ − ( ) 𝑘
13 13

Practice Exercises 2-page 1

 𝑣⃗⃑ −3 1 1 1
Part b): The desired vector is given by 3 (− |𝑣⃗⃑|) = ⃗⃑) = −√3𝑖⃑ + √3𝑗⃑ + √3𝑘
(( ) 𝑖⃑ − ( ) 𝑗⃑ − ( )𝑘 ⃗⃑ .
2 2 2 2 2 2
√(1) +(−1) +(−1)
2 2 2

Exercise 4:

Given that three vectors 𝑢 ⃗⃑ , 𝑣⃑ and 𝑤⃗⃗⃑ which have the same length
(magnitude). They are positioned in the picture shown on the right hand side.
⃗⃑
𝒗 120°
Copy vectors 𝑢 ⃗⃑ , 𝑣⃑ and 𝑤
⃗⃗⃑ head to tail as needed to sketch the indicated
vectors as follows: 120° ⃗⃑
𝒖

1) 𝑢
⃗⃑ − 𝑣⃑ ,
2) 𝑢
⃗⃑ − 𝑣⃑ + 𝑤
⃗⃗⃑ , ⃗⃗⃗⃑
𝒘 120°
3) 𝑢
⃗⃑ + 𝑣⃑ + 𝑤
⃗⃗⃑ .

Solution to Exercise 4 part 2): Solution to Exercise 4 part 2): Solution to Exercise 4 part 3):

⃗⃑
𝒗 ⃗⃑
𝒗

⃗⃑
𝒖 ⃗⃑
𝒖 ⃗⃑
𝒗 ⃗⃑ + 𝒗
𝒖 ⃗⃑ ⃗⃑
𝒗

⃗⃑
−𝒗 ⃗⃑
−𝒗 ⃗⃑
𝒖

⃗⃗⃗⃑
𝒘 ⃗⃑ − 𝒗
𝒖 ⃗⃑ ⃗⃗⃗⃑
𝒘 ⃗⃑ − 𝒗
𝒖 ⃗⃑

⃗⃑ − 𝒗
𝒖 ⃗⃑ + 𝒘
⃗⃗⃗⃑ ⃗⃗⃗⃑
𝒘 ⃗⃗⃗⃑
𝒘

𝑢
⃗⃑ + 𝑣⃑ + 𝑤 ⃗⃑
⃗⃗⃑ = 0

Exercise 5: 𝒛

𝐶(1,1,3)
Find the coordinates of the center of gravity of the triangle shown on the
right side.

Solution to Exercise 5:

Fact: If point 𝑀 is the mid-point of the line segment 𝐴𝐵 and point 𝑃 is

the desired center of gravity , then we have

𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡(𝐶 , 𝑃) 𝟐
= .
𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡(𝐶 , 𝑀) 𝟑
𝐵(1,3,0) 𝒚
1) Things to do: Find the coordinates of the mid-point 𝑀 of the line
𝒙 𝐴(4,2,0)
segment 𝐴𝐵 by using the mid-point formula. In this example, we find

4+1 2+3 0+0 5 5

that the mid-point 𝑀 is given by ( , , ) = ( , , 0) .
2 2 2 2 2
2) Things to do: Let the unknown coordinates of the center of gravity be 𝑃(𝑥 , 𝑦, 𝑧) . Establish a vector equation for the
unknown center of gravity. In this example, we use the fact above to set up a vector equation involving point 𝑃 as follows:
𝟐 𝟐 5 5
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃑
𝐶𝑃 = ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃑
𝐶𝑀 ⟺ < 𝑥 − 1 , 𝑦 − 1 , 𝑧 − 3 > = < − 1 , − 1 , 0 − 3 > .
𝟑 𝟑 2 2
Equating the x-components, y-components and z-components of both sides of the equation above, we obtain three
equations in three unknowns 𝑥 , 𝑦 , 𝑧 . Solve them, we have 𝑥 = 2 , 𝑦 = 2 , 𝑧 = 1 .

Conclusion: the center of gravity of the triangle above is given by (2,2,1) .

Practice Exercises 2-page 2