CHAPTER 27 Vectors In this chapter you will earn how to: « write vectors as column vectors, and find their magnitudes © add and subtract vectors, and multiply a vector by a number © use vectors to prove geometric theorems. ‘You will also be challenged to: « investigate Queens on a chessboard. ‘When a knight moves on a chessboard, it ean move two squares ina straight Tine and one square at right angles, like this: ee A knight can also move one square in a straight line and two squates sideways. ‘See ifyou can work out how fo move a knight around a chessboard so that it all 64 squares. The frst three moves have been done to start you off If possible, try to find a route so that the 64th square is knight's hop away from the first square; this will close the tour so thatthe knight can get back to its starting position27.1 Introducing vectors Avs igo tt a «mapa eng anda deston, Von ae oe doe ig lm et rian chs (3) You ne ay ‘met column veetor notation in Chapter 14, Here are some diagrams to remind you how the notation works: ie Ne toate (estes ‘The magnitude, or modulus, ofa vector is simply its length, regardless of direction. In simple eases the magnitude ofa vector may be seen by inspection, but often Pythagoras” theorem is needed. EXAMPLE 8) Illustrate the vector (Negative values indicate left or down.) 5 =(SJosee Thevesura=(§) Work ut the magnitude ofthe vstr a ans 6 wits tothe right nthe x dietion) SOLUTION and 8 units up (in the y a b) Magnitude of a is V4 ‘The magnitude ofa sits length, so we = V6 8 ‘can use Pythagoras’ theorem to find it 100, wih 0EXERCISE 27.1 shows some vectors drawn on a grid of unit squares, ‘vectors to describe each one. I a) Ni [ Te ; | wy, 2 Draw hatch of ach ofthese vectors on squared pape. a (7 » (- ° ‘) (2) »(1) »($) » (5 o(2 3 Clete the magnitude of ach ofthe following vector: (3) (2) (2) 9%) 9 (4s) 27.2 Adding and subtracting vectors You can add two vectors using simple arithmetic. For example: ()G)-(a)-(4) Subtraction is done ina similar way. For example: ()-(3)-(23)-() 827Geometrically, addition corresponds to placing the two vectors head to tal ike this: Leer 7 Vectors are often named using letter a, b ¢ etc. The letters are usually ‘underlined if written by hand, but they are in bold type in examination papers and textbooks. EXAMPLE Tevesunadanlewesientya=($}0=(_2)amte= (4) w 9-(t)(a)-(2( 8) pref QUI) arent a)-(tss)() To find the negative ofa vector, ust reverse the signs ofthe numbers. rere a= (5) ena = (~3) When drawn on a grid, the veetor ~a will be parallel tothe vector a, but will point inthe opposite direction. EXAMPLE cnenta=(SJade=(_}} wou a peta ») P-4 Illustrate your answers graphically.SOLUTION mere (t)e(a)-G) vem(t)-(4)-(3) EXERCISE 27.2 Tmvedona.banica iventya=(2}0=(~2)ane=(_2) ce S$ Wokoua =e 6 Workout a+ ¢ 7 Mevecump.qantracenentye=(_?}a=(3)amte=(8} Wert cach of ho coun ect. state your ener wit dap Syma sate Wr-p tna Woot tate 13 Wakotp—r tg 14 Youare given tha (6) + (1) = (5 ) Fn te vate of 18 You ar given that) -(_ Me (2) Find vues of andy. 16 Youaeentut(5) +(_£)=(,2) Pte vats 27.3 Multiplying a vector by a number (scalar multiplication) ‘You can multiply a vector by an ordinary number, say &: The ieindatiacnmcnectvescpis — , Sooner 8 Forexample, 3(2) = (3*2)=(6 A)-GH)H( Cjerion tet enti oe tint wh aie subtraction.EXAMPLE, reveconapantcacsventya=(_?}»=(4)ance=(2) 1) Work ou 3, Give youranver as coum vest, 3) Workout 20 ~ eGlve your answer ara clunn tor htt ith diagram 6 Workou ta 3b 20 SOLUTION we) (22)(3) ase mend) )48)-(9-(3)(8)-6) EXERCISE 27.3 The vector a, bande are ivenbya=(_3).0=({)ande=(~1) Work out: 13a 2m+e date 4 3e—5b 5 4a+5b 6 240 owvemenamtrasinny(-3}4=()=t"=( 3) Work out: 7 5p 8 —3r 9 2r—3p 10 4p +2446 11 S34, 12 2p-3r+q19 von ents(3) + (2) =(2) rite ot 14 vane grenants(!)~2( 3) =($} rode esteem 15 Yous gen tate) +2(4) = (32) ine aa ay 27.4 Using vectors ‘You can use vectors to solve geometric problems, and to prove some theorems bout parallel lines, fone vector is a (scalar) multiple of another, then the two vectors must be parallel. The size ofthe multiple will tell you the scale factor. [In these problems itis often helpful to use AB, for example, to represent the vector that would translate you from A to B. You can always rewrite the vector iff you need to travel via an intermediate point P: AB= AP + PB EXAMPLE. ABCD isa parallelogram. AB = p, BC = 4 5 . © ’ a ‘> Fing, in terms ofp and q, expressions for . a) BA by AC 9 BB SOLUTION a) BA=~AB 9 BD=BA+ AD EXAMPLE. “The diagram shows a triangle ABC. Mis the midpoint of AB and is the midpoint of AC. AN = pand AN = 4. 531a) Find an expression for MN in terms of p and q. bb) Find an expression for BC in terms of p and 4. 6) Use your esl from a) and b) to prove that MN is parallel o BC. SOLUTION To get MN in terms of p and q, go from M tN via the point A. -MAnns the same length as AMbut points inthe opposite direction, so MA = ~AM =2xMN “Therefore BC is parallel to MN. ‘Some exam questions might refer to line being divided in certain rao For example, you might be told that X isthe point on AB for which AX: XB = 2: 1. This simply means that AX is twice as long as XB, so that X is two-thirds ofthe way along AB. EXAMPLE ‘The diagram shows a parallelogram ABCD. AB = 6p and BC = 6q. 8 sa c ° y “ 'y x X is the point on AD or whi 1:2 Yi the point on DC for which D ai Find, in terms of p and 4, expressions fr: a) AC by) AB 9 De ect oF nw Hence prove that AC is parallel to XY. SOLUTION AB+ BC p+ 6q BG since they are opposite sides ofthe parallelogram©) BE= AB since ney are opposite sides oF he parallelogram =i ) XB=]x AB 3x64, XB + DY 4q+ 4p 444 + 64= 609 +4) Now AC and X¥ = 4p + 4q=4(p +) ‘Thus AC = 1.5 x X¥, and therefore AC is parallel to XY. EXERCISE 27.4 1 The diagram shows two squares ABXY and CDYX. AB = pan AY =q B x. c a > 7 Y Find, in terms of p and q, expressions for: a) BX by AX 9 4B a ac 2 The diagram shows a trapezium PORS, PG = and QR = b, PS is twice the length of QR ot“ * s Find, in terms of p and g, expressions fo: . a) by PR 9 BS oS3 The diagram shows a triangle ABC. AP = }AB, and A¢ AB = pand AG 2) Find, in terms of p and 4, expressions fo: @ PO a) AB iy AC iy) BE 1b) Use your results from a) to prove that PQ is parallel to BC. 4 A quadrilateral ABCD is made by joining points A (1, 1), B(S, 8),C (11, 11) and D (7,4), 4) Write column vectors for: @ AB Gy DE 'b)_ What do your answers to part a) tell you about AB and DC? ©) Write goiumn vectors for: @ BC (iy AB 4) What kindof quadrilateral is ABCD? 5 The diagram shows a parallelogram PORS. PG = sand PS E isthe mid-point of QS. ° R P : ‘s 4) Find, in terms of aand b: @ 8 Gi) OE b) Explain why SR ©) Find PR in terms of a and b. 4) What can you deduce about the diagonals of parallelogram? 6 A quadrilateral ABCD is made by joining A (~3, ~3),B (9,3), (, 7) and D(-1, 5). 4) Write column vectors for: @ AB Gy DE 'b) What do your answers to part ) tell you about AB and DC? ©) What kind of quadrilateral is ABCD?7 The diagram shows a quagrlteral PORS. PQ = 2a, PS = 2b and SR = 26. EF, G and H are the mid-points of PQ, PS, SR and QR respectively. @ R 2 ° » Ss 2) Exphinyhy Qk = 20+ 26-42 3 radi nim ofaemde 6) Find Gincmeotabande 9) Warn Slc thou ce sgnens Ea FG? 3 Whereas obra REVIEW EXERCISE 27 1 ana(£) (2) =(!6) teva ote anty 2 Pis the point (5,4) and Qis the point (1, 12) 4) Write PO and QP as column vectors, 1) Work out the length ofthe vector PG 3 stn pint 2,3) and isthe pit (2,0 2) @) Wie Aas scolmn vor Gh Pde engh of he este Disa ui shh spas a gh fA iis the point (0,0). b) Find OD as a column vector. Cis a point such that ABCD is a rhombus. AC isa diagonal ofthe rhombus. ©) Find the coordinates of C. [Edexcel]4 OPQ isatriangle. Ris the midpoint of OP. S isthe midpoint of PQ. OB = pandOO= 4, Bigg nor sccratly den » s o. z @ 4) Find O8 in terms of p and q. 1b) Show that BS is parallel 10 0. [Edexcel] 5 OPQis a triangle, Tis the point on PQ for which PT: TQ OP= aand 06 Q Diagram nor stay dawn » o P 2) Wt dom ia ems of anda expression fr 7, 1) Egres Ontos of and. Give your mower nt sinpet fom, (ede 6 OABC is @ parallelogram. is the point on AC such that AP = AC. OK = 6a and OC = 6e. » 8 Diagram nor sccuraely den 6a, o G ra 4) Find the vector OF Give your answer in terms of a and ‘The midpoint of CB is M. 'b) Prove that OPM isa straight line [Edexcel]7 PORS is a parallelogram. Tis the midpoint of QR. Uis the point on SR for which SU = PQ = a and PS y Ridge nat sccrtly dawn . T P : a Write down in terms ofa and b, expression for: 9 Pr » 70 Teaexeet 8 ABCD isa quadrilateral, © Diagram nor K is the midpoint of AB. L is the midpoint of BC. Mis the midpoint of CD. N is the midpoint of AD. AK =a, AN = band DM a) Find, in tems of a, b and e the vectors: @ KN aac ay BE Gy) LM }b) Write down two geometrical facts about the lines KN and LM which could be deduced from your answers to part a. [Bdexcel] 9 The diagram shows a regular hexagon ABCDEF with centre 0. 4 B Diagram not OA = 6a and OB = 6b. 537a) Express in terms of a andor b, Ow X isthe midpoint of BC. 1) Express EX in terms ofa andiorb. ‘Ys the point on AB extended, such that AB : BY = 3 2 ©) Prove that EX and Y lie on the same straight line. 10 OPQR is trapezium. PQ is parallel to OR, OF = b, PG = 2a, OR = 6a, Mis the midpoint of PQ. Nis the midpoint of OR. rg Digg not Set earn ° * R 4) Find, in terms of and b, the vectors @ OM MN X isthe midpoint of MN. 1b) Find, in terms of a and b, the vector OX ‘The lines OX and PQ are extended to meet at the point Y. ©) Find, in terms of a and b, the vector NY. 11 thesesora= (1 andes = 8) Work out the magnitude of vector a 1b) Hence write down the magnitude of vector b. 12 PG nas magnitude 6 em, and PR = 3 x PO, oe ell 1) Find the magnitude ofthe vector PR. Key points [Fdexcel] [Rdexcel] 4 Avectorhas.a direction and a length, or magnitude. Vectors are usually written in 4 6 xdirection and 6 in the y direction. of 4units in the ¢olumn form, such as ( )soich represents atransk 2 Vectors are often used in examination questions to prove geometric theorems. The methad is to use given base vectors a, b,c, etc. and then express other lines interms of these, for example 2a + b. 3. Twovectors will be parallel if one is a scalar multiple of the other. For example, Ga + 3bisparallelto 2a + b, since Ga + 3b = 3 x (2a +b)internet Challenge 27 @p Queens on a chessboard Here is another chessboard problem. ‘The Queen isthe most powerful piece on chessboard. A Queen can attack any squares in a straight line from it, forwards, backwards, left, right or diagonal, The diagram below shows ths in green for one position ofthe Queen: Place eight Queens on a chessboard so that no two Queens attack each other. ‘You may want to use squared paper to record your attempts. This problem does have more than one solution, Once you have solved it, you might want to use the internet to help answer the following questions. 1. How many different distinct solutions does this problem have? 2. How many solutions ar therein which no three Queens lie on an oblique line? 3) What is a Latin square? Is this a Latin square problem? 4 How many knights can be placed on a chessboard so that no knight attacks any other? 5 How about bishops? Obviously it is not possible to place nine Queens on a board without a least two Queens attacking each other. (Why not?) There is, however, a ‘nine Queens’ problem: Place nine Queens 1d one pawn on a chessboard so that no two Queens attack each other. 6 Try to solve the nine Queens problem. Use the internet if you get stuck.