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tors
4
4.1 Vectors in R2
y
b
P (a, b)
b
O a x
−−→ −−→
Let OP denote the arrow from the origin O(0, 0) to the point P (a, b). Then OP is called the
position vector of P , denoted by
−−→
OP = a i + b j .
−−→
In general, if P (a1 , b 1 ) and Q(a2 , b 2 ) are two points in the x y-plane, then PQ determines the
change from its initial point P to the end point Q:
−−→
PQ = (a2 − a1 )i + (b 2 − b 1 )j .
−−→ −−−→
If PQ can be parallel shifted to P ′Q ′ , then they are the same vector:
−−→ −−′−→′
PQ = P Q .
82
CHAPTER 4. VECTORS 83
y
b
Q ′ (a 2′ , b 2′ )
b
Q(a 2 , b 2 )
P ′ (a 1′ , b 1′ )
b
b
P (a 1 , b 1 )
O x
−−→ p
|OP | = |a i + b j | = a 2 + b 2 .
p p
Example 4.1.1. (a) |3i + 4j | = 32 + 42 = 25 = 5,
p p
(b) |5i − 12j | = 52 + (−12)2 = 169 = 13.
λu = (λa)i + (λb)j .
Geometrically, λu is parallel to u, and its length is |λ| times |u|, i.e., |λu| = |λ| |u|.
(1/|u|)u
(i) 2u = 2(2i + j ) = 4i + 2j .
(ii) −2u = −2(2i + j ) = −4i − 2j .
p p p p
(iii) |u| = 22 + 12 = 5, and the normalized vector of u is (2/ 5)i + (1/ 5)i.
CHAPTER 4. VECTORS 84
u
O 2u
u x
|u|
−2u
u ± v = (a1 ± a2 )i + (b1 ± b2 )j .
Geometrically, parallel shift v so that its initial point is the end point of u, then u + v is the
vector from the initial point of u to the end point of v ; parallel shift v so that u and v have the
same initial point, then u − v is the point from the end point of v to the end point of u.
u
v v
u+v
u−v
v
u u
u • v = a1 a2 + b1 b2 .
u • v = |u| |v | cos θ.
v
u−v
θ
u
CHAPTER 4. VECTORS 85
Example 4.1.4. Let A(1, 2), B(3, 4) and C (2, 1) be the vertices of △ABC . Find ∠ A and the area of
△ABC .
B
b
−→
AB
−→
A b AC
b
C
−→ −→
Solution. AB = (3 − 1)i + (4 − 2)j = 2i + 2j and AC = (2 − 1)i + (1 − 2)j = i − j . Then
−→ p p −→ p p
| AB | = 22 + 22 = 2 2 and | AC | = 12 + (−1)2 = 2.
Then
−→ −→
AB • AC 2 · 1 + 2 · (−1)
cos ∠ A = −→ −→ = p p = 0.
| AB | | AC | 2 2· 2
So ∠ A = π/2 = 90◦ , and the area of △ABC is
1 −→ −→ 1 p p
| AB | | AC | sin ∠ A = · 2 2 · 2 · 1 = 2.
2 2
Example 4.1.5. Prove that any angle inscribed in a semi-circle is a right angle.
Solution. Suppose the semi-circle has radius a. Place semi-circle in the upper-half of the x y-
−→
plane so that it is centred at the origin O and its diagonal AB is along the x-axis. Then A is
(−a, 0) and B is (a, 0).
y P (a cos θ, a sin θ)
b
A θ B
−a O a x
Let P be a point on the semi-circle. If θ = ∠BOP , then P is (a cos θ, a sin θ), and
−→ −→
P A = (−a − a cos θ)i + (−a sin θ)j and P B = (a − a cos θ)i + (−a sin θ)j .
Then
−→ −→
P A • P B = (−a − a cos θ)(a − a cos θ) + (−a sin θ)(−a sin θ)
= a 2 cos2 θ − a 2 + a 2 sin2 θ = a 2 (cos2 θ + sin2 θ) − a 2 = a 2 − a 2 = 0.
−→ −→
Therefore, P A ⊥ P B; or equivalently, ∠ AP B = 90◦ (= π/2).
CHAPTER 4. VECTORS 86
4.2 Vectors in R3
b
P (a, b, c)
b
O
y
a b
−−→ −−→
Let OP denote the arrow from the origin O(0, 0, 0) to the point P (a, b, c). Then OP is the position
vector of P , denoted by
−−→
OP = a i + b j + c k.
−−→
In general, if P (a1 , b 1 , c1 ) and Q(a2 , b 2 , c2 ) are two points in the x y z-space, then PQ is the vector
from its initial point P to the end point Q:
−−→
PQ = (a2 − a1 )i + (b 2 − b 1 )j + (c2 − c1 )k.
(1/|u|)u.
CHAPTER 4. VECTORS 87
u • v = a1 a2 + b1 b2 + c1 c2 .
(i) u • v = v • u.
(ii) (u + v ) • w = u • w + v • w .
(iii) |u|2 = u • u.
(iv) |λu| = |λ| |u|. In particular, if u 6= 0, then (1/|u|)u is a unit vector.
(v) If θ be the angel between vectors u and v , then u • v = |u| |v | cos θ.
(vi) u and v are perpendicular (u ⊥ v ) ⇔ u • v = 0.
i j k i
u a1 ❙❙❙❙ ❦ b 1 ❘❘❘❘ c ❘ a
❧ ❧ 1 ❘❘❘❘❘❘❧ ❧ ❧ 1
❙❙❙❦ ❦ ❘❘❧
❘ ❘
❙
❦ ❙❙❙ ❧ ❘❘❘ ❧ ❘❘❘
❦ ❦ ❙ ❧ ❧ ❘ ❧ ❧ ❘
v a2 b2 c2 a2
u×v k i j
i j k i
u 1 ❙❙❙❙
❙❙❙❦ ❦ ❦
2 ❙❙❙❙
❙❙❙❧ ❧ ❧
3 ❙❙❙❙
❙❙❙❦ ❦ ❦
1
❦ ❙❙❙❙ ❧ ❙❙❙❙ ❦ ❙❙❙❙
❦ ❦ ❙ ❧ ❧ ❙ ❦ ❦ ❙
v 4 5 6 4
u×v k i j
i × i = 0, j × j = 0, k × k = 0,
i × j = k, j × k = i, k × i = j,
j × i = −k , k × j = −i, i × k = −j .
(i) u × u = 0.
(ii) u × v = −v × u.
(iii) (u + v ) × w = u × w + v × w .
(iv) w × (u + v ) = w × u + w × v .
(v) (u × v ) • w = (v × w ) • u = (w × u) • v .
Let u and v be non-parallel vectors in R3 . Then u × v is perpendicular to both u and v , and its
direction satisfies the right-hand rule:
One points the thumb finger in the direction of u and the index finger (forefinger) in the
direction of v , then the middle finger points in the direction of u × v :
u×v
v ×u
v Area = |u × v |
θ
u
A = 21 |u| |v | sin θ = 12 |u × v |.
CHAPTER 4. VECTORS 89
Area = 12 |u × v |
v
θ
u
B
b
−→
AB
−→
A b AC
b
C
Example 4.2.4. Find the area of △ABC with vertices A(1, 2, 3), B(3, 2, 1) and C (1, −1, 2).
−→ −→
Method 1: Scalar product. (i) AB = 2i − 2k and AC = −3j − k.
−→ p p −→ p p
(ii) | AB| = 22 + (−2)2 = 2 2 and | AC | = (−3)2 + (−1)2 = 10.
−→ −→ −→ −→ p p p
(iii) cos ∠ A = ( AB • AC )/(| AB | | AC |) = 2/(2 2 · 10) = 5/10.
q p p
(iv) sin ∠ A = 1 − ( 5/10)2 = 95/10.
−→ −→ p p p p
(v) Area of △ABC is 12 | AB | | AC | sin ∠ A = 21 · 2 2 · 10 · 95/10 = 19.
−→ −→
Method 2: Vector product. (i) AB = 2i − 2k and AC = −3j − k.
CHAPTER 4. VECTORS 90
−→ −→
(ii) AB × AC = [0(−1) − (−2)(−3)]i + [(−2)0 − 2(−1)]j + [2(−3) − 0 · 0]k = −6i + 2j − 6k.
i j k i
−→
AB 2 ◗◗◗◗ ♠ 0 ◗◗◗◗ −2 ◗◗◗ ♠2
◗◗◗ ♠ ♠ ◗◗◗♠ ♠ ♠ ◗◗◗ ♠ ♠
♠◗◗ ♠ ◗◗ ♠ ◗◗
−→ ♠ ◗◗◗ ◗◗◗ ◗◗◗
♠♠ ♠ ♠ ♠ ♠ ◗
AC 0 −3 −1 0
−→ −→
AB × AC k i j
−→ −→ p p
(iii) Area of △ABC = 21 | AB × AC | = 12 (−6)2 + 22 + (−6)2 = 19.
4.3 Lines
z Pb
−→ B
b
AB
A
b
O y
This is called a vector equation of L. Note that vector equation of a straight line is not unique.
(a) L passes through the point (3, 4, −5) and is parallel to the vector −2j + 3k.
(b) L passes through the points (−2, 3, 1) and (1, 4, −2).
CHAPTER 4. VECTORS 91
(b) A direction vector of L is given by the vector between the given two points:
We may use the position vector of any point on L in the vector equation: −2i + 3j + k or i + 4j −
2k. So L has vector equation
L 1 : r = a + λu, λ ∈ R,
L 2 : r = b + µv , µ ∈ R.
Note that the angle ϕ between vectors u and v is given by cos ϕ = (u • v )/(|u| |v |) with 0 ≤ θ ≤ π.
L2 L2
v
v
u v u
θ θ
L1 v L1
is given by
|(−2j + 3k) • (3i + j − 3k)| |−11| 11
cos θ = =p p =p ;
|−2j + 3k| |(3i + j − 3k)| 13 · 19 247
so θ ≈ 0.796 (radian) ≈ 45.6◦ .
CHAPTER 4. VECTORS 92
Skew lines
L 1 : r = a + λu, λ ∈ R,
L 2 : r = b + µv , µ ∈ R.
For example, in the following picture, L 2 and L 3 are parallel, L 1 and L 3 intersect at the point
P , L 1 and L 2 are skew lines.
L2
L3
P
b
L1
Example 4.3.3. Let L 1 be the line with vector equation r = (i − j − 2k) + λ(−i + 2j + 3k), λ ∈ R.
If the line L 2 is parallel to L 1 and passes through the point (1, 2, 3), then L 2 has vector equation
Example 4.3.4. Determine if L 1 and L 2 are parallel, or they intersect, or they are skew:
−2 + 3λ = −5 + 2µ, 3 + λ = 1 + µ, 1 − 3λ = −5 + µ.
Note that we have a linear system of 3 equations and 2 variables λ and µ. First solve λ and µ
using the first two equations
−2 + 3λ = −5 + 2µ and 3 + λ = 1 + µ,
CHAPTER 4. VECTORS 93
to get λ = 1 and µ = 3. Then substitute into the last equation to check the validity:
1 − 3 · 1 = −5 + 3 ⇒ −2 = −2.
Example 4.3.5. Determine if L 1 and L 2 are parallel, or they intersect, or they are skew:
−2 + 3λ = 2 − µ, 3 + λ = 3 + µ, 1 − 3λ = 4 + µ.
−2 + 3λ = 2 − µ and 3 + λ = 3 + µ
to get λ = 1 and µ = 1. Then substitute into the last equation to check the validity:
1 − 3 · 1 = 4 + 1 ⇒ −2 = 5,
which is absurd. Therefore, L 1 and L 2 do not intersect. It follows that they are skew.
r = a + λu, λ ∈ R.
Draw the line from P which is perpendicular to L, and let Q be the foot of perpendicular. The
−−→
point Q is also called the projection of P onto L, and |PQ| is the distance from P to L.
b
P
u
L b
A Q
CHAPTER 4. VECTORS 94
−−→
The following is the procedure to find the projection P and the distance |PQ|:
Example 4.3.6. Let P (7, 4, 2) be a point and L be a line with vector equation
r = 2i + 3j + 4k + λ(−i + j + k), λ ∈ R.
So Q has position vector 2i + 3j + 4k + (−2)(−i + j + k) = 4i + j + 2k, i.e., Q is the point (4, 1, 2).
−−→
Finally, PQ = (4i + j + 2k) − (7i + 4j + 2k) = −3i − 3j . So the distance from P to L is
−−→ p p
|PQ| = (−3)2 + (−3)2 = 3 2.
4.4 Planes
b
A
R
CHAPTER 4. VECTORS 95
−→
For any point R on the plane Π, we must have AR ⊥ n. If r is the position vector of R, then
(r − a) • n = 0, i.e.,
r • n = a • n.
This equation is called the normal form of the plane Π.
Suppose n = a i + b j + c k, and let d = a • n. Then the point R(x, y, z) is on the plane Π if and
only if
ax + by + cz = d ,
Example 4.4.1. Find the equation of the plane Π that is perpendicular to the vector 2i −3k, and
contains the point (4, 5, 6).
Solution. A normal vector of Π is 2i − 3k, and the position vector of a point on Π is 4i + 5j + 6k.
So the normal form of Π is
r • (2i − 3k) = (4i + 5j + 6k) • (2i − 3k), i.e., r • (2i − 3k) = −10.
Example 4.4.2. Find the equation of the plane Π that contains points A(1, 2, 3), B(3, 4, 1) and
C (−1, −2, −3).
−→
AC b C
b
A
−→ b
B
AB
Example 4.4.3. Find the equation of the plane that contains the point A(−2, 1, 5) and the straight
line L with vector equation
r = 2i + 3j + 4k + λ(−i + j + k), λ ∈ R.
−→ b A
AB
b
u
L
B
If Π1 and Π2 are not parallel, then they intersect at a line L. Note that L ⊥ n1 and L ⊥ n2 . Then
a direction vector of L is given by n1 × n2 , and L has a vector equation
r = a + λ(n1 × n2 ), λ ∈ R,
where a is the position vector of any point lies on both Π1 and Π2 .
CHAPTER 4. VECTORS 97
Π1 : x − y + 2z = 2 and 3y + 5z = 3.
Solution. The normal vector of Π1 is n1 = i − j +2k and the normal vector of Π2 is n2 = 3j +5k.
Then the line of intersection has direction vector
n1 × n2 = −11i − 5j + 3k.
It is left to find a point which lies on both Π1 and Π2 . Substitute z = 0 in both Π1 and Π2 to get
x − y = 2 and 3y = 3.
Then y = 1 and x = 3. Hence, (3, 1, 0) is a point on both Π1 and Π2 , i.e., on the line of intersection.
Therefore, the line of intersection of Π1 and Π2 has a vector equation
r = 3i + j + λ(−11i − 5j + 3k), λ ∈ R.
Π2 θ
θ Π1
θ
θ Π1
n2
Then the (acute) angle θ between Π1 and Π2 equals the angle between their normal lines:
x − y + 2z = 2 and 2x + 5y − 7z = 4.
Let L be a straight line with vector equation r = a + λu, λ ∈ R, and Π be a plane of normal form
r • n = b • n. Substitution r = a + λu into r • n = b • n to find the value of λ.
(i) If there is exactly one solution, then L and Π intersects at exactly one point.
(ii) If there is no solution, then L and Π are parallel, denoted by L ∥ Π.
(iii) If every λ ∈ R satisfies the equation, then L is contained in Π, denoted by L ⊂ Π1 .
Example 4.4.6. Let L be the line with vector equation r = 2i + 3j + 4k + λ(i + j + k), λ ∈ R, and
Π be the plane x − y + 2z = 9. Substitute L into Π to get
9 = (2 + λ) − (3 + λ) + 2(4 + λ) = 7 + 2λ ⇒ λ = 1.
Let λ = 1 in the equation of L. Then r = 3i + 4j + 5k, i.e., L and Π intersects at the point (3, 4, 5).
Example 4.4.7. Let L be the line with vector equation r = 2i + 3j + 4k + λ(i + j + k), λ ∈ R, and
Π be the plane x + y − 2z = 9. Substitute L into Π to get
9 = (2 + λ) + (3 + λ) − 2(4 + λ) = −3,
Example 4.4.8. Let L be the line with vector equation r = 14i + 3j + 4k + λ(i + j + k), λ ∈ R, and
Π be the plane x + y − 2z = 9. Substitute L into Π to get
9 = (14 + λ) + (3 + λ) − 2(4 + λ) = 9,
Let L be a straight line with vector equation r = a + λu, λ ∈ R, and Π be a plane of normal form
r • n = b • n. Then the (acute) angle θ between L and Π is given by
n u −n u
π −θ π −θ
2 2
θ v θ v
Example 4.4.9. Let L be the line with vector equation r = 2i + 3j + 4k + λ(i + j + k), λ ∈ R, and
Π be the plane x − y + 2z = 9. Then L has a direction vector i + j + k and Π has a normal vector
i − j + 2k. So the angle θ between L and Π is given by
p
|(i + j + k) • (i − j + 2k)| 2 2
sin θ = =p p = .
|i + j + k| |i − j + 2k| 3· 6 3
(i) The position vector Q is of the form q = p + λn for some λ ∈ R. Substitute it into the
equation of Π to evaluate the value of λ:
(p + λn) • n = a • n.
CHAPTER 4. VECTORS 100
Let λ = −1. Then Q has position vector 2i + 4j − k, i.e., Q is the point (2, 4, −1).
The distance from P to Π is given by
−−→ p
|PQ| = |−1| |i − 2j + 2k| = 1 · 12 + (−2)2 + 22 = 3.
z
2
−y 2
e −x −z =0
x y
The normal line of the surface at P is the line passing through P and parallel to (∇ f )P :
r = (x0 i + y 0 j + z 0 k) + λ(∇ f )P , λ ∈ R.
The tangent plane of the surface at P is the plane containing P with normal vector (∇ f )P :
r • (∇ f )P = (x0 i + y 0 j + z 0 k) • (∇ f )P .