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2.1.2 Basic Vector Operations Scalar Multiplication

Consider two vectors a = (xa, ya) and

b = (xb, yb) a b

Equality

a b

a b

Zero Vector
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Addition and Subtraction • a+b

Given two vectors

a = (xa, ya)

• a−b
b = (xb, yb)
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Example

Given a = (2, −1, 1), b = (1, 2, −3) and

c = (0, 1, −3), find c − 2a + 3b
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2.1.3 The Dot (Scalar) Product Example

Given two vectors in Rn Given two vectors u = (2, 1, 3) and

v = (−1, 1, 3), determine u · v
u = (u1, u2, . . . , un), v = (v1, v2, . . . , vn)

the dot product is defined as

u · v = (u1v1 + u2v2 + · · · + unvn)

• Multiply the corresponding elements of

u and v.
• The result is a scalar.
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The Length of a Vector Example

Given a vector u = (u1, u2, . . . , un) in Rn, Determine the length of the vector
the length or norm of u is defined as u = (2, 3, −1)

√ √
|u| = u·u= u1u1 + u2u2 + · · · + unun

and

|u|2 = u · u
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Unit Vectors Example

A unit vector û is a vector with the same Find a unit vector in the direction of
direction as u, but with a length of 1 u = (2, 3, −1)

u
û =
|u|
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Angles Between Vectors

Given vectors u and v

the angle θ between u and v is given by

u · v = |u| |v| cos θ for 0 ≤ θ ≤ π

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Example

Find the angle θ between the vectors

u = (2, 1, 3) and v = (−1, 1, 1)
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Orthogonality Example

If two vectors u and v are orthogonal Show that the vectors u = (1, 1, 5) and
(perpendicular) v = (2, 3, −1) are orthogonal

v
1
(1 )
then θ = 2 π, and cos 2 π = 0.
Hence,

u·v =0
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Example

Find t if u = (3, t, −2) is orthogonal to

v = (1 − t, −2, 4)
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Orthogonal Projection

Consider the vector problem

P v S R

−→
Write the vector u = P Q as the sum of two
vectors:
−→
• P S that is parallel to v
−→
• SQ that is perpendicular to v
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Example (b) Find the vector component of u

orthogonal to v
Consider the two vectors u = (−1, −2) and
v = (−2, 3)
(a) Find the orthogonal projection of u on
to v