CHAPTER 8 – Vectors

8.1 Definition of Vectors and Scalars

1. A vector is a quantity that has both magnitude and direction.
2. A scalar is a quantity that has only magnitude.
3. Vectors can be represented by a horizontal line. The magnitude of vector is
the length of the line while the arrow's direction is the vector's direction.
4. ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ or lowercase letters (a, b, x) can represent a vector from point P to point
Q.

8.1a Concept of Vector Basics

1. |⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | or | | is the magnitude of the vector ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ or .
2. A zero vector is a vector denoted by 0 and its magnitude zero.
3. Negative vectors are vectors of the same magnitude but in opposite
directions relative to the reference vector.
4. Two vectors are said to be equal when both have the same magnitude and
direction.

5. x k =k
6. |k |=k| |.
7. Direction k is equal to if k is positive.
8. Direction k is opposite to if k is negative.

9. Two vectors are parallel if one vector is the scalar multiples of the another
vector.
Example 1
1. In the figure, PQRSTU is uniform hexagonal.

State one vector which is same as

(a) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ (b) ⃗⃗⃗⃗ (c) ⃗⃗⃗⃗

Solution
(a) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ (b) ⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ (c) ⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

Example 2
Diagram below show vector

Draw each of the following vectors.

(a) 2𝑎
(b) - 2𝑎

Solution
(a) (b)
8.2 Addition and Subtraction of Vectors
1. A resultant vector is a new vector generated by the combination of two or
more single vectors.
2. Properties of the addition of two parallel vectors, and
a. same direction,
b. equal magnitude to the addition of the magnitude of the magnitude
of the both vectors, | | | | | |.
3. The resultant vector for the addition of two non-parallel vectors can be
obtained using:
(a) Triangular law

(b) Parallelogram law

(c) Polygon law

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

4. Subtraction a b can be considered as the addition of vector a and
negative vector b, that is

Example 3
Find the following resultant vector by referring the diagram

(a) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗

(b) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗ 0 (zero vector)

Example 4
The diagram below show the quadrilateral ABCD.

Find the resultant vector for each of the following.

(a) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
(b) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
(c) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
Solution
(a) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
= ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
=⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

(b) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

= ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
= ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

(c) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

= ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

8.2a Expression of one Vector as Linear Combination of Multiple

Vectors
A vector can be expressed as a linear combination of several unequal vectors
in a polygon.

Example 5
In the diagram, PQRS is a quadrilateral of PR and QS intersact at point M with
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ 2 and ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ 2

Find each of the following vector in the form of

(a) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
(b) ⃗⃗⃗⃗
Solution
(a) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

= ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ )

= )

⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

8.2b Conditions for Two Parallel Vectors

If ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ atau ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ , where h and k are constants, the straight line AB is
parallel to the straight line CD.

Example 6
Given that ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ and ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ , determine whether vectors ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ and ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ are
parallel.

Solution
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
( )
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
Therefore, vectors ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ and ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ are parallel.
Example 7
In the diagram, ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ and ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ .
Q is the midpoint of the line BC and AP: PC = 1: 2.

(a) Express each of the following vectors in terms of x x and y.

(i) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
(ii) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
(iii) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

(b) Show ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ in terms of and

Solution
(a) (i) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

(ii) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

( )

(iii) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

( )
(b) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

( )

8.2c Conditions for Collinearity of Three Points

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

Example 8
A F B

D C

The diagram shows an ABCD trapezium. The straight lines AC and DF intersect at
point E. ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ , ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ , ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ , ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ and ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ .

Express each of the following vectors in terms of x and y.

(i) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ (ii) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ (iii) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
Solution
(i) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

=
=

(ii) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

= ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

=
=

(iii) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

= ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
=

8.2d Non Parallel Vectors

If a and b are two non-zero and non-parallel vectors and ha = kb, then h = 0
and k = 0.

Example 9
Given that where and are non-zero and non-parallel
vectors, find the values of and .

Solution

Since vector and are non-zero and non-parallel,

8.3 Vectors in Cartesian Plane
1. A unit vector is a vector with magnitude of
one unit.
2. A unit vector that is parallel to the -axis is
denoted by ( )while a unit vector that is
parallel to the -axis is denoted by .
In the given diagram, if point , the
vector ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ( )
3. The magnitude of vector ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ can be
determined by using pythagoras theorem.
OP2 = OQ2 + QP2 = x2 + y2
Therefore, OP = √ which is |⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | = √
4. The unit vector in the vector direction =( ) is denoted by ̂ and
given by
̂ ( )
| | √
5. For any two points P and Q, the vector of position Q relative to P is given by
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ , where O is the origin.
Example 10
Given that , determine vector
(a)
(b)

Solution
(a)
( ) ( ) ( )

(b)

( ) ( ) ( )

=( ) ( ) ( )
=
= 31

Example 11
Given that vector = ( ) and = ( ), find
(a) vector – 3
(b) unit vector in the diretion of –3

Solution
(a) –3 ( ) ( )

( ) ( )

( )
(b) | – 3 | = √
=√ unit

Unit vector in the direction of –3

= ( )
√

√
=( )
√

8.3a Expression of a Vector as the Linear Combination of a Few

Vectors in the Cartesian Coordinates.
The combination of a few simultaneous operations of a few vectors follows the
algebraic operation rules.
For example, if , then
( ) ( ) ( )

* The combination of a few simultaneous operations on a few vectors can also

be carried out using the column matrices.

( ) ( ) ( )

( ) ( ) ( )

( ) ( )
Example 12
Given that and . If , find the values of
and .

Solution

( ) ( )

t=
Example 13
Given that dan . If vector and are parallel, find
(a) Nilai
(b) | | | |

Solution
(a) If vector and are parallel,

Equating coefficient ,

Equating coefficient ,

(b) | | | |

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