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A
B
initial
point
terminal
point
AB
A vector is represented by a directed line segment.
Vectors are equal if they have the same length and
direction (same slope).
-6
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6
P
Q
(-3,4)
(-5,2)
The component form of
PQ is:
2, 2 = v
v
(-2,-2)
( ) ( )
2 2
2 2 = + v
8 =
2 2 =
If
1 = v
Then v is a unit vector.
0, 0
is the zero vector and has no direction.
Vector Operations:
1 2 1 2
Let , , , , a scalar (real number). u u v v k = = u v
1 2 1 2 1 1 2 2
, , , u u v v u v u v + = + = + + u v
(Add the components.)
1 2 1 2 1 1 2 2
, , , u u v v u v u v = = u v
(Subtract the components.)
Vector Operations:
Scalar Multiplication:
1 2
, k ku ku = u
Negative (opposite):
( )
1 2
1 , u u = = u u
v
v
u
u
u+v
u + v is the resultant vector.
(Parallelogram law of addition)
( )( ) ( )( )
3 5 4 2 = + 23 =
The dot product (also called inner product) is defined as:
1 1 2 2
cos u v u v u = = + u v u v
This could be substituted in the formula for the angle
between vectors (or solved for theta) to give:
1
cos u
| |
=
|
|
\ .
u v
u v
=
|
|
\ .
u v
u v
Example:
1
2, 3 2, 5
cos
2, 3 2, 5
| |
= |
|
\ .
1
11
cos
13 29
| |
=
|
\ .
55.5 ~
Application: Example 7
A Boeing 727 airplane, flying due east at 500mph in still air,
encounters a 70-mph tail wind acting in the direction of 60
o
north of east. The airplane holds its compass heading due
east but, because of the wind, acquires a new ground speed
and direction. What are they?
N
E
Application: Example 7
A Boeing 727 airplane, flying due east at 500mph in still air,
encounters a 70-mph tail wind acting in the direction of 60
o
north of east. The airplane holds its compass heading due
east but, because of the wind, acquires a new ground speed
and direction. What are they?
N
E
u
Application: Example 7
A Boeing 727 airplane, flying due east at 500mph in still air,
encounters a 70-mph tail wind acting in the direction of 60
o
north of east. The airplane holds its compass heading due
east but, because of the wind, acquires a new ground speed
and direction. What are they?
N
E
v
u
60
o
Application: Example 7
A Boeing 727 airplane, flying due east at 500mph in still air,
encounters a 70-mph tail wind acting in the direction of 60
o
north of east. The airplane holds its compass heading due
east but, because of the wind, acquires a new ground speed
and direction. What are they?
N
E
v
u
We need to find the magnitude
and direction of the resultant
vector u + v.
u+v
N
E
v
u
The component forms of u and
v are:
u+v
500, 0 = u
70cos60 , 70sin60 = v
500
70
35, 35 3 = v
Therefore:
535, 35 3 + = u v
538.4 ~
( )
2
2
535 35 3 + = + u v
and:
1
35 3
tan
535
u
=
6.5 ~
N
E
The new ground speed of the airplane is about 538.4 mph,
and its new direction is about 6.5
o
north of east.
538.4
6.5
o
t