12.

2 Vectors
Component Form
 12.2 Vectors

𝐁
𝐀𝐁
Terminal point
𝐀

Initial point
3
12.2 Vectors

4
 12.2 Vectors

Notation of vectors

• Boldface letters: a, b, c, u, v, w, F
• Letters with arrowhead: 𝑢, 𝑣, Ԧ 𝐴𝐵
Ԧ 𝑤, 𝐹,
• Underlined letters: u, v, w

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 12.2 Vectors
Position Vector
Let v = 𝑃𝑄.
• There is one directed line
segment equal to 𝑃𝑄 whose
initial point is the origin.
• This is the representative of
v in standard position and is
the vector we normally use
to represent v.
• It is called the position
vector of 𝑃𝑄 .
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 12.2 Vectors

Magnitude / Length of 𝐯

𝐯 = 𝑣12 + 𝑣22 + 𝑣32 = 𝑥2 − 𝑥1 2 + 𝑦2 − 𝑦1 2 + 𝑧2 − 𝑧1 2

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 12.2 Vectors

Notes:

• The magnitude or length of v, is denoted by the

symbol 𝐯 or 𝐯 .

• The zero vector is 𝟎 = 0,0 (in 2D) or 0,0,0 (in 3D).

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 12.2 Vectors

e.g. Find the

(a) component form and
(b) length
of the vector with initial point P(-3, 4, 1) and
terminal point Q( -5, 2, 2).

Answers:
(a) PQ = −2, −2, 1
(b) PQ = 3 units
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 12.2 Vectors

e.g. A small cart is being pulled

along a smooth horizontal
floor with an 80-N force F
making a 45° angle to the
floor. What is the effective
force moving the cart
forward?

Answer:
Effective force, |𝐅|cosθ = 40 2 ≈ 56.57 N
10
Vector Algebra Operations
 12.2 Vectors

*A scalar is simply a real number.

12
 12.2 Vectors

*(b) The sum of vectors is called the resultant vector.

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 12.2 Vectors

If 𝑘 > 0, 𝑘𝐮 has the same direction as u.

If 𝑘 < 0, then the direction of 𝑘𝐮 is opposite to that of u.
The difference u – v means u + (-v).
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 12.2 Vectors

So, if

𝐮 = 𝑢1 , 𝑢2 , 𝑢3 and
𝐯 = 𝑣1 , 𝑣2 , 𝑣3 ,

then

𝐮 − 𝐯 = 𝑢1 − 𝑣1 , 𝑢2 − 𝑣2 , 𝑢3 − 𝑣3 .

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 12.2 Vectors

e.g. Let 𝐮 = −1, 3, 1 and 𝐯 = 4, 7, 0 . Find the

components of
1
(a) 2𝐮 + 3𝐯 (b) 𝐮 − 𝐯 (c) 𝐮
2

Answers:
1
(a) 10, 27, 2 (b) −5, −4, 1 (c) 11
2

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12.2 Vectors

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 𝐯
Unit Vector 𝐯
 12.2 Vectors

Unit vector tells us about the direction of the vector.

A vector can be written as a product of its magnitude

(length) and its direction.

𝐯
𝐯= 𝐯
𝐯

Magnitude Direction

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 12.2 Vectors

Standard unit vector in space

𝐢 = < 1,0,0 >

𝐣 = < 0,1,0 >
𝐤 = < 0,0,1 >

𝐤
𝐣 𝑦
𝐢

𝑥
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 12.2 Vectors

e.g. Find a unit vector 𝐮 in the direction of the

vector from 𝑃1 (1, 0, 1)to 𝑃2 (3, 2, 0).

2 2 1
Answer: 𝐮 = , ,−
3 3 3

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 12.2 Vectors

e.g. If 𝐯 = 3𝐢 − 𝟒𝐣 is a velocity vector, express 𝐯 as a

product of its speed times a unit vector in the
direction of motion.

3 4
Answer: 𝐯 = 5 𝐢 − 𝐣
5 5

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v  2i  2 j  k
F
12.2 Vectors
v  2i  2 j  k
F

e.g. A force of 6 newtons is applied in the direction

of the vector 𝐯 = 2𝐢 + 2𝐣 − 𝐤. Express the
force 𝐅 as a product of its magnitude and
direction.
2 2 1
Answer: 𝐅 = 6 𝐢+ 𝐣 − 𝐤
3 3 3

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Midpoint of a Line Segment
 12.2 Vectors

(𝑥2 , 𝑦2 , 𝑧2 )

(𝑥1 , 𝑦1 , 𝑧1 )

𝑥1 + 𝑥2 𝑦1 + 𝑦2 𝑧1 + 𝑧2
𝑀= , ,
2 2 2

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v  2i  2 j  k
F
12.2 Vectors
v  2i  2 j  k
F

e.g. Find the midpoint of the segment joining

𝑃1 (3, −2, 0) to 𝑃2 (7, 4, 4).

Answer: 5, 1, 2

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