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Vectors Introduction- Lesson1 The three representations of the Position vector of  point A
2
are: a, ⃗
or  O  A
To solve vector problems at the CSEC level, you will 3
need to understand the following terms:
• Position vector,
• Displacement vector,
Displacement Vector
• Collinear vectors,
• Equal vectors,
• Parallel vectors and resultant vectors.

An example will be used to illustrate each point

Vector Definition:
A vector is a quantity that has a magnitude (size) and
a direction. ( shown by an arrow)

In the diagram above O A and O  B are called

⃗ ⃗

position vectors because their starting points are taken

relative to the origin (O).

The starting
starting point of vector   A  B is not the origin, so the
⃗

term displacement vector is used to differentiate between

this vector and the position vector.

Vector Representation Example 1

Vector AB is the vector going from A to B. Three different Points P(3, 2) and
and Q(-1, -3) have position vectors
vectors 
O  P 
representations of the vector AB are: and O Q  relative to the origin O.

1. A  B
⃗
- as two letters
letters with an overhead
overhead arrow 1. Express 
O  P  and  as column vectors
OQ

2.
4
3 ) - as a column matrix (column vector)
2.
3.
Express
Find the
the len
leng

 P Q as a column vector 

gth of   P  Q
3. m - as a lowercase letter 

Solution:
The size ( modulus,
modulus, magnitude,
magnitude, length
length ) of vector AB
is found using Pythagoras:  4 2 3 2 = 5 The position vectors can be found directly from the
coordinates of P and Q:

Position vector 1)

⃗=
O  P 
3
2
OQ
 
 = −1
−3
a

Point A(2,3)
A(2,3) can be viewed as being displaced from the
origin O, by a vector called the position vector where:

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Finding  P Q ⃗ Find Vector equation

⃗
The displacement vector   PQ is the vector going from P
to Q where : so how do we find this vector? ⃗ =
 AC  b+c

⃗
 AD =
⃗
OD =
 ⃗
BO =
 BM  =
⃗
 MA =

Imagine that your starting position is point P and you wish Parallel Vectors and Equal Vectors
to get to point Q. Note that the only know path or course is
to travel first from P to O, and then from O to Q. This
means that we can get from P to Q using the two vectors
that we already know.

i.e ⃗
 PQ ⃗
=  PO + ⃗
OQ

⃗ , but what
 Note carefully that we have the vector  O  P 
⃗ .
we need is the vector   P O
This is however easily found however, since the vector 
 P O⃗ is simply the reverse of the vector  O P  ⃗

i.e ⃗
 PO = ⃗ =
−OP  − 3
2 ) Vector c is parallel to vector  b if :
c = kb, and k is a constant (scalar ).

) ) )
3 −1 −4 so if a vector is a constant (scalar) multiple of another 
2) so : ⃗
 PQ = −
2
+
−3
=
−5 vector, then they are parallel.

Example:
 =  − 4 2 −5 2
3. Length (magnitude) of   P Q = 6.4 Given: a b =
3
2 ) ; c=
12
8 )
Vector Equation Exercise: Prove that the vectors are parallel.

D Solution:
f 

M
d
 Now
12
8 ) can be written as 4
3
2 ) (take 4 as a factor)

e
C so c = 4 ×b ( k = 4 a constant)

O
a
c
⇒ c = 4b ( so b and c are parallel)

A B
b

In the diagram above, the points are A, B, C , M , and O, Equal Vectors

and the vectors are a,b,c,d,e, and f. Vector e is equal to vector  h if they both have the same
So for example:  M  C  ⃗ =d  magnitude and direction. ( so e = h)
It follows that equal vectors are also parallel vectors
Use this diagram to complete the table.
(Note the direction of the arrows)

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Collinear vectors ( on a straight line) Lesson 2 Example1 -Vectors

C
Two points A and B have position vectors

B
O  A  
 = −2 ; O  B
5
 = 4 , where O is the
2 
origin ( 0,0). The point G lies on the line AB such that

 ;
1
 AG = AB . Express in the form
3
 x
 y
,
 ; position vector  O G 

A  A B  A G
collinear vectors

Two vectors are collinear if one vector is a scalar 

multiple of the other vector. If   A B⃗ and  B C ⃗   are A(- 2, 5) G
collinear (on a straight line), then  B C  ⃗ = k.A B
⃗ …
where k is a scalar (constant)
(Note that this is the same condition for parallel vectors) B(4,2)

Example:

Given Points A(-2,1); B(2,3) and C(8,6) . 0

Use a vector method to prove that the points are collinear 
**************************************************
1) Finding ⃗
 A  B
Solution:
 Now  A  B ⃗ is the vector going from A to B
That is: First go from A to O and then from O to B
C

⃗
so:  A B ⃗
=  A O + ⃗
O B

A
B
 but ⃗
 A O = ⃗
−O  A = − −2
5 )
o
so  =
 A B − −2
5 )   
+
4
2
=
−3
6

⃗
2) Finding  A G
We need to prove that :
⃗ = k.A B
 B C  ⃗ …. ( the condition for collinearit y)


so we need to find the two displacement vectors  A B
now ⃗
 A G =
1
3
⃗
 A  B = 1/3   −3
6
=  
2
−1

and  B C  and then establish the relationship between

them.

3) Finding 
)  
OG
⃗ ⃗ +O B
⃗ −2 2 4
 A B =  A O = − + =
1 3 2  Now 
OG =  +  A G
O A 
⃗ 
 B C ⃗ + O C 
=  B O ⃗ = − 2
3 ) )  +
8
6
=
6
3
=     
−2
5
+
−1
2
=
0
4
**************************************************

 but 
6
3
= 1.5
4
2 ) so ⃗ = k.A  B
 B C  ⃗ k = 1.5

so the three points are on a straight line (collinear.)

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Class Activity 1 giving 3D A⃗ = 3a

so: ⃗
D  A = a
The position vectors of points A, B and C are:

6 3 ⇒ ⃗ =
 D C  a + ½ ( b – 3a)
⃗ =
O  A , ⃗ =
O B ⃗ = 12
, and O C 
2 4 −2 = a + ½ b - 1.5 a
= ½b-½a
a
⃗ , ⃗ = ½ ( b – a)
Express in the form , vectors  B A  B C 
b  =
Finding  D X  ⃗ ⃗
 D O +O X 
2) State one geometrical relationship between BA and = −O D⃗ +O X ⃗
BC = − 2a + 2b = 2 (b − a )
3) If Point M is the mid point of AB; Find the
coordinates of M. Two Geometrical Relationships:
ii)  DX and DC are parallel, (2) DX = 4 DC 
Example 2: iii) D, C and X are collinear ( on a straight line)
A
Class Activity 2
D The Position vectors of R and J are :

   
C

=
O  R
−2 and =
O  J 
1
3 −1
O
B X

In the diagram above: C is the mid point of AB and B is

1. Express  in the form
 R J 

 a
b
the mid point of OX, and D is such that OD = 2DA. 2. Find the length  R  J 
The vectors a and b are such that: O  A
O B⃗ =b
⃗ = 3a and 3. Given that another point is such that  =
 R T

8
2
Find the coordinates of T
Express the following in terms of  a and b
 ;  A C 
 A B  ; DC    and  D  X 

*********************************************************

State two geometrical relationship between DX and DC
State one geometrical relationship between the points D,
C and X
**************************************************
Hint: The coordinates of T comes from the position vector 
 
OT
*********************************************************
Class Activity 3 ABCD is a quadrilateral such that:

 =
now  A B

Finding  A B
⃗ + O  B
 A O ⃗
⃗=
O  A
−8
4 ) ; ⃗=
O  B
−5
7 ) ; ⃗  =
OC
1
4 )
= ⃗ +O  B
−O  A ⃗ = −3a + b
= b −3a OM is a point on OA such that the ratio
OM:OA = 1:4
Prove that ABCM is a parallelogram
Finding 
 A C 

now: C is mid point AB

⇒  = ½  A B
A C   = ½ ( b – 3a) Solution:
*********************************************************

Hint: The opposite sides of a parallelogram are equal., so

Finding 
 D C  this question is testing that you know how to prove that two
now   = D  A
 D C   A C
  , where OD = 2DA vectors are equal.
*********************************************************

and ⃗ + D A
O D ⃗ = 3a ( given)
so ⃗ + D  A
2 D  A ⃗ = 3a

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Class Avtivity 4
The position vectors A and B relative to the origin are
a and b respectively.
The point P is on OA such that OP = 2PA
The point M is on BA such that BM = MA

B A

OB is produced to N such that OB = ON

Express in terms of a and b, the vectors:
1. ;
 A B ;
 P  A 
 P  M 

2. use a vector method to Prove that Points P, M

and N are collinear 
3. Calculate the length AN given that :

a= 
6
2
and b = 1
2
***************************************************

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Vector lesson - Solutions to activity questions Activity 2

Activity 1 T
 R T 
⃗

R(-2,3)
B(3,4)
O T ⃗

A(6,2
O
J(1, -1)
O
C(12, -2)

⃗
 R J  ⃗ + O J 
=  R O ⃗

⃗ =
 B A ⃗ + O  A
 B O ⃗ = − 3
4
+ 
6
2
=
3
−2
= −
−2
3 ) +
1
−1 ) =
3
−4 )
length = √ ( 3 +(−4 ) )
2 2
=5
⃗ =
 B C  ⃗ + O C 
BO ⃗ = −
3
4 ) +
12
−2 ) =
9
−6 )
so: ⃗  = ⃗ ( geometrical relationship) Position vector of T = ⃗ 
OT = ⃗
O  R + ⃗ 
 R T
 B C 3 B A

B(3,4)
=
−2
3 ) +
8
2 ) =
6
5 )
M so coordinates = T (6, 5)
A(6,2 *********************************************

Activity 3
O
B(-5,7)
C(12, -2)

C(1,4)

1
⃗
A(-8,4)
⃗
if M = mid AB; then  B M  =  B  A
2

=
1
2
3
−2 ) =
1.5
−1 ) M

 Now the coordinates of M can be found from the The objective is to prove that :
⃗
 position vector  O M 
(1)  = M  C
A  B    ; and (2)  = C  B
 M   A 
where ⃗
O  M  = ⃗ + B M 
O  B ⃗
3 1.5 4.5
= + =  Now: ⃗ =  A O
 A B ⃗ + O B
⃗
4 −1 3

⇒ coordinates = M( 4.5, 3) = − −8
4 ) +
−5
7 ) =
3
3 )
Also: ⃗ =  M  O
 M  C  ⃗ + O C 
⃗  but OM:OA = 1:4

⇒  =¼
O  M  
O  A = ¼    
−8
4
=
−2
1

so :  =
O  M 
−2
1 )
⃗
Giving  M  O = − −2
1

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so:   =
 M  C
   
1 − −2
4 1
= 3
3
⇒  =
 P  M 
1
3
1
a   b− a 
2

⇒  = M  C
  1
 A  B ….... (1) =  3b − a 
6

**********************************************
 = C  B
We now need to prove that : M   A  Points P, M and N are collinear if:
 = k P  M 
 M   N   ( k is a constant)

now: ⃗ =
 M  A
3
4
⃗
O  A =
3
4
−8
4 ) =
−6
3 ) 
so we need to find  M  N 
also ⃗
C  B = ⃗ +O  B
C  O ⃗ now ⃗
 M   N  ⃗ + B N 
=  M  B ⃗

= −
1
+
−5 =
−6 
where:  M  B = ½  b − a  ; and  =b
 B N 
4 7 3
so 
 M   N  = ½  b −a  +b
⇒  = C  B
M   A  … (2)
= ½  3b − a 

From (1) and (2), ABCM is a parallelogram. ⃗

now note that  M   N  = ⃗
3 P  M  ⇒ k=3
therfore P , M and N are on a stright line ( collinear)
Activity 4
N  : consider triangle OAN:
To find the length of   A N 

b
⇒  =O  A
O  N    A  N 

⇒  =O N
 A N   – O  A
 = 2b − a
B

 
M
A
 1 6
⇒ A  N  =2 -
b 2 2
1/3 (a)

   
P
2 6 −4
= - =
2/3 (a) 4 2 2
O

 −4  2
2 2
Length = = 4.47
Finding:  =
 A B ⃗ + O  B
 A O ⃗ = ⃗ + O  B
− A O ⃗
************************************************
= −a + b = b−a

Finding ⃗
 P  A
1
now: =
 P  A a
3

⃗
Finding  P  M  = ⃗ + A M 
 P  A ⃗
 =
now A M  = MB =½ A  B ½  b −a 

1 1
so ⃗
P  M  = a + ( a− b)
3 2

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