Vectors

Prepared by N. Alexander
2021
 Objectives:

• At the end of this presentation, students should be able to:

• Explain concepts associated with vectors
• Combine vectors
• Express a point P(a,b) as a position vector OP where O is the origin (0,0)
• Determine the magnitude of a vector
• Use vectors to solve problems in geometry
 Vector concepts
• A vector is a quantity that has both magnitude and direction.
• A scalar quantity has only magnitude.
• E.g. A car is moving at a speed of 10 m/s. There is no mention of what
direction the car is going therefore speed is a scalar quantity
• A car is moving at a speed of 10 m/s due west. Here since the direction is
given, the velocity is a vector quantity.
• Vectors are more often seen in areas like Physics and Engineering
 Vector Representation
• Vectors may be represented using a ray or arrow.
• The length of the arrow gives the magnitude of the vector while the
direction of the arrow gives the direction of the vector.
• Vectors are named using two capital letters with an arrow on top e.g., AB
or with one common letter e.g v and u
• Vectors are usually written as a column in the form .
Writing a column vector given a line
For each line, find the starting point. we must count
how many steps you have gone across the x-axis,
then count how many steps along the y-axis.
Note: for x-axis, left steps are negative, right steps
are +ve
: for y-axis, steps down are -ve, steps up are `
+ve.
a = and b = c=
NB. If you change direction, change the sign!!
44
 Combining Vectors: The Triangle Law
• We call the arrow head on a vector its head/nose and the end its tail.
• If two vectors are chasing each other (one runs directly into the other) as
shown in the diagram below, the sum of these vectors is called the
resultant vector found by simply adding the vectors.
Combining Vectors: Addition and subtraction

• Adding and subtracting vectors is sooo simple!!! Simply add or subtract

corresponding values of x and y.
• Example 1. If a = and b = then
• a+b= + =
• Example 2. If a = and c = then
• a-c= - =
 Multiplying a Vector by a scalar
When multiplying a vector by a scalar (a number), simply multiply both the
x value and the y value by the scalar.
For example, if p =
=3= =
Now try : If
(1)a – b (5) b – 4a

(2)2b (6) c + 2a

(3)2b – a

(4)a – b + c
Position Vectors
Notice that OA and OB both start from the point
o(0,0) or the origin. These two vectors are called
position vectors. These tell the position of the
point relative to the origin. The first letter of a
position vector is usually O.
The position vectors are just the coordinates of
the endpoint written as a column.
What are the coordinates of A?
Then the vector OA =

What are the coordinates of P?

Then the vector OB =
 We can find other vectors from
position vectors. Here we can find
the vector AB.

AB = AO + OB

Note: AO is in the opposite

direction of OA so change the
sign!!!

AB = -OA + OB

= OB - OA
 Applying the triangle law
• In a similar way,
• PQ = OQ – OP
• QP = OP – OQ
Lets work on this one together!
The midpoint of a Vector
h
Let’s try this one too!!
 The Magnitude of a vector
• The Magnitude (length) of a vector AB = is given by the formula
• |AB| =
 Find the length of these vectors
• u=

• AB =

• BC =
• A vector of length 1 is called a unit vector
Geometric Relationships: Shapes Recap
Geometric Relationships: Shapes Recap
Geometric Relationships
 Geometric Relationships
• 1. Vectors are parallel if one is a scalar multiple of the other.
• E.g. the vectors AB = and the vector CD= are parallel vectors.
• This is because CD can be written as 3 or 3AB
 Geometric Relationships
• 2. Vectors are collinear if they are parallel and they share a common
point. Collinear means they are on the same line.
• E.g. If PQ = and QR = , then
• QR = 5 = 5PQ and
• They have a common point of Q. Therefore, PQ and QR are collinear.
Lets practice some past paper questions!
Vectors in Geometry