6.

3 Vectors in the Plane

Many quantities in geometry and physics, such as area, time,

and temperature, can be represented by a single real number.
Other quantities, such as force and velocity, involve both
magnitude and direction and cannot be completely
characterized by a single real number.
To represent such a quantity, we use a directed line segment.
The directed line segment PQ has initial point P and terminal
point Q and we denote its magnitude (length) by PQ .
Q
Terminal Point

P PQ
Initial Point
 Vector Representation by Directed Line Segments
Let u be represented by the directed line segment from
P = (0,0) to Q = (3,2), and let v be represented by the directed
line segment from R = (1,2) to S = (4,4). Show that u = v.

Using the distance formula, show

S that u and v have the same length.
4 Show that their slopes are equal.
v
3 u = (3 − 0) + (2 − 0) =
2 2
13
R Q
2
v = (4 − 1)2 + (4 − 2)2 = 13
1 u

P 1 2 3 4
 Component Form of a Vector

The component form of the vector with initial point P = (p1, p2)
and terminal point Q = (q1, q2) is

PQ = q1 − p1,q2 − p2 = v1,v2 = v
The magnitude (or length) of v is given by

v = (q1 − p1 ) + (q2 − p2 ) =
2 2 2
v1 + v2
2
Find the component form and length of the vector v that has
initial point (4,-7) and terminal point (-1,5)

6 Let P = (4, -7) = (p1, p2) and

Q = (-1, 5) = (q1, q2).
4
Then, the components of v = v1 , v2
2 are given by
v1 = q1 – p1 = -1 – 4 = -5
-2 2 4
-2 v2 = q2 – p2 = 5 – (-7) = 12
-4 Thus, v = −5,12
-6 and the length of v is
-8 v = (−5) 2 +12 2 = 169 = 13
 Vector Operations

The two basic operations are scalar multiplication and vector

addition. Geometrically, the product of a vector v and a scalar
k is the vector that is k times as long as v. If k is positive,
then kv has the same direction as v, and if k is negative, then
kv has the opposite direction of v.
3
v − v
½v 2v -v 2
Definition of Vector Addition & Scalar Multiplication

Let u = u1 ,u 2 and v = v1 , v2 be vectors and let k be a

scalar (real number). Then the sum of u and v is

u + v = u1 + v1 , u 2 + v2

and scalar multiplication of k times u is the vector

ku = k u1 , u2 = ku1 , ku2
 Vector Operations

Ex. Let v = −2,5 and w = 3,4 . Find the following vectors.

a. 2v b. w – v
2v = −4,10 w −v = 3 −(−2),4 −5 = 5,−1
10
8 4
2v
6 3
w
4 2
v -v
2 1

-4 -2 2
-2 1 2 3 4 5
-1 w-v
 Writing a Linear Combination of Unit Vectors

Let u be the vector with initial point (2, -5) and terminal point
(-1, 3). Write u as a linear combination of the standard unit
vectors of i and j.
6
Solution 10
(-1, 3) 4
2 u = −1 −2,3 + 5 8

6
= −3,8
-2 u 2 4
-2 4 8j
= −3i + 8 j
-4 2
(2, -5) -3i
-6 Graphically,
it looks like… -4 -2 2
-8 -2
 Writing a Linear Combination of Unit Vectors

Let u be the vector with initial point (2, -5) and terminal point
(-1, 3).Write u as a linear combination of the standard unit
vectors i and j.
Begin by writing the component form of the vector u.

u = −1− 2,3 − (−5)

u = −3,8
u = −3i + 8 j
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 Unit Vectors

v ⎛1 ⎞
u = unit vector = = ⎜ ⎟v
v ⎝v ⎠

Find a unit vector in the direction of v = −2,5

v€ −2,5 1 −2 5
= = −2,5 = ,
v 2
(−2) + (5)
2
29 29 29
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 Vector Operations

Let u = -3i + 8j and let v = 2i - j. Find 2u - 3v.

2u - 3v = 2(-3i + 8j) - 3(2i - j)

= -6i + 16j - 6i + 3j
= -12i + 19 j