1.

ELEMENTARY VECTOR ALGEBRA IN 3D

A vector

Definition: A vector is a quantity which has both magnitude and

direction

Graphically a vector is represented by an arrow OP as shown in

figure below

Figure 1.1 A vector presenta

A 2
1  A22  A32

(1) (a) With examples distinguish between scalar field and vector field.

(b) Given the scalar field defined by  ( x, y, z)  4 x z  5xy  6 xyz find

3 2

 at the points

(i)  0,0,0 (ii) 1, 2, 1 (iii)  3, 4, 2

Notes By JD Madasi
(c) Graph the vector fields defined by

(i) v  x, y   xiˆ  yjˆ (ii) v  x, y    xiˆ  yjˆ (ii) v  x, y, z   xiˆ  yjˆ  zkˆ

(3) Show that a necessary and sufficient condition that vectors

that vectors

a  a1iˆ  a2 ˆj  a3kˆ, b  b1iˆ  b2 ˆj  b3kˆ, c  c1iˆ  c2 ˆj  c3kˆ be linearly

independent is that

a1 a2 a3
the determinant b1 b2 b3  0
c1 c2 c3

(4) (a) Prove that the vectors

a  3iˆ  ˆj  2kˆ, b  iˆ  3 ˆj  4kˆ, c  4iˆ  2 ˆj  6kˆ can form the side of a

(b) Find the lengths of the medians of the triangle

Notes By JD Madasi
Notes By JD Madasi