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Btech 1st Sem: Maths: Vector Algebra
Btech 1st Sem: Maths: Vector Algebra
LECTURE-- 1
Vector algebra
Objective : Vectors are frequently used in many branches of pure and applied mathematics and in
physical and engineering science. Objective of Vector algebra is to learn a set of rules which are
gainfully employed in combining a vector with another vector or a vector with a scalar.
Scalar: A scalar is a physical quantity which has magnitude only but no definite direction in space.
For example density, volume , temperature , work , speed, heat etc.
Vectors: A vector is a physical quantity which has magnitude and is related to a definite direction in
space. For example Velocity, Acceleration, Force etc.
A vector is a directed segment of straight line on which there are distinct initial and terminal
points. The arrows indicate the
direction of vectors. The length of the line segment is the magnitude
of the vector. For example, PQ is a vector directed from P to Q.
P Q
a
Thus PQ = a .
Unit vector: A vector a whose magnitude is unity is called unit vector and is denoted by â .
Null Vector : A vector a whose magnitude is 0 is called Null vector, denoted by O .
Equal vector : If two vectors a ( a ) and b ( b ) are said to be equal if they have equal magnitudes
and same direction and denoted by a b .
b
O a A
If three points O , A , B are taken such that OA = a , AB = b , then the vector OB is called vector
sum or the resultant of the given vectors and a and b and write as OB = a + b.
Subtraction of two vectors: We define the difference a b of two vectors a and b to be the sum
of the vectors a and - b , i.e. a b = a (b )
Multiplication of a vector by a real number: Let be scalar. Then a is a vector whose
magnitude is | | times that of a and direction is the same as that of a or opposite of a , according
as is positive or negative.
Collinear vectors: Two vectors a and b are said to be Collinear or parallel if a = b where
is a scalar. A system of vectors is said to be collinear if they are parallel to the same straight line.
Coplanar vectors: A system of vectors is said to be Coplanar if they are parallel to the same plane.
x y z
Linearly dependent and Linearly independent vectors: A set of vectors , , is
| OP | | OP | | OP |
said to be linearly dependent , if there exist a set of scalars x,y,z,……not all zero, such that x a + y
b + z c +………..= 0.
Otherwise they form a linearly independent set of vectors. Thus for a set of linearly independent
vectors a , b , c ,.... if x a + y b + z c +………..= 0 , then we have x = y = z = ……..= 0.
a
a
b
O
If a and b are position vectors of P and Q respectively , then PQ = b - a = p.v. Q – p.v. of P.
The position vector of the point P whose Cartesian coordinates are (x,y,z) is given by
r xiˆ yjˆ zkˆ . Obviously | r | = x 2 y 2 z 2 where direction cosines of OP =
x y z
( , , ).
| OP | | OP | | OP |
Z
P
Let OP makes with the rectangular axes at O ( The figure above). Then cos , cos , cos
are called the direction cosines of OP and we can write
x = | OP |cos , y = | OP |cos , z = | OP |cos
The unit vector in the direction of OP is given by
OP 1
( xiˆ yjˆ zkˆ) cos iˆ cos ˆj cos kˆ ,
| OP | | OP |
where iˆ, ˆj , kˆ are unit vectors along the coordinate axes and (x,y,z) is position of P w.r.t O.
Projection or component of a vector on an axis : Let AB be a vector and OX be an axis. A plane
passing through A which cuts OX perpendicularly at P. Then P is the point of projection of A on
OX.
B
A
P Q
O X
Similarly , we take point of projection Q of B on OX. Then PQ is called projection or component of
the vector AB on the axis OX.
If AB makes an angle with OX , then component of AB on OX = | AB |Cos .
Illustrative examples:
|a| = 12 (3) 2 52 = 35
|b| = 32 (2) 2 12 = 14
|c| = 22 (1) 2 (4) 2 = 21
2.a) Show that the vectors (2,4,10) and (3,6,15) are linearly dependent.
2.b) Show that the vectors (1,2,3) and (4,-2,7) are linearly independent.
2x + 3y = 0
4x+6y =0
10x+15y =0
Solving these , we get x= 3, y = -2, which are not all zero. Hence 3a– 2b = 0
Therefore the vectors a , b are linearly dependent.
2x -2y =0
3x +7y =0
Solving we get , x = y = 0
Soln: If the given vectors be coplanar , then it will be possible to express one of them as a linear
combination of the other two.
Therefore the 1st vector can be expressed as linear combination of the other two.
Assignment:
1) If a = i -2j+2k then show that |a| =3 and direction cosines are 1/3 , (-2/3), 2/3
2) Prove that the vectors (2,3,-6) , (6,-2,3) and (4,-5,9) form the sides of an isosceles triangle.
3) Show that the vectors a = (1,2,3) , b = (2,-1,4) and c = (-1,8,1) are linearly dependent and
also show that the vectors a = (1,-3,2) , b = (2,-4,-1) and c = (3,2,-1) are linearly
independent.
4) Determine the values of and for which the vectors (-3i + 4j + k) and ( i + 8j + 6k)
are collinear.
5) Find the constant m such that the vectors
a 2i j k , b i 2 j 3k , c 3i mj 5k are coplanar
1)The unit vector along the vector 2i j k is
1
2i j 5k (b) 2i j 5k (c) 1 2i j 5k
(a) (d) none
30 30
2) If a 2i 3 j k , b 6i 9 j 3k then a and b are
(a) Coplanar (b) independent (c) collinear (d) none
3)If for two vectors a and b
| a b mj 5ka 2i j k , b i 2 j 3k , c 3i | = | a b | , then a and b are
(a) Parallel (b) orthogonal (c) collinear (d) none
Product of vectors
Scalar product or dot product or inner product: The scalar product of two vectors a and
b, whose directions are inclined at an angle , is the scalar quantity, | a | | b | cos and is denoted
by a. b.
O
a N A
Thus a.b = |a||b| cos , where |a| and |b| represent the magnitudes of the vectors a and b
respectively.
3) If two vectors a and b are perpendicular to each other, then 90 and cos 0 .
Therefore a.b = 0.
This is the condition of orthogonality of two non zero vectors a and b
2 2
4) From definition of dot product we get a.a = |a||a|cos0 = | a | , write as | a | = a 2
5) For the unit vectors iˆ, ˆj , kˆ , we have iˆ 2 iˆ.iˆ = 1 . Similarly ˆj 2 ˆj. ˆj = 1 and kˆ 2 kˆ.kˆ =1 and
iˆ. ˆj ˆj.kˆ kˆ.iˆ 0
6) a.(b c ) a.b a.c (Distributive law.)
7) (a b ) a b
a.b
8) Component of a along b = | a | cos
|b |