MATH 502c-MATH FOR SCIENCE TEACHERS II

Problem Set #2

NAME: JAKE H. DESTACAMENTO

1. Graphically illustrate the position vectors 𝑟1, 𝑟2 & 𝑟3 in a rectangular coordinate plane.
Determine the resultant of these position vectors.
𝑟1 = 5𝑖 − 2𝑗 + 3𝑘 𝑟2 = 𝑖 + 4𝑗 − 2𝑘 𝑟3 = −𝑖 + 2𝑗 − 2𝑘

Find the magnitude of:

a. |𝑟2 |
b. |𝑟1 + 𝑟2 + 𝑟3 |
c. 2𝑟1 − 𝑟2 − 3𝑟3
d. 𝑅⃗
e. Unit vector

DESTACAMENTO, JAKE MATH 502c Problem Set 2

 Answers:

a. |𝑟2 | = √(1)2 + (4)2 + (−2)2

= √1 + 16 + 4
= √𝟐𝟏 or
≈ 𝟒. 𝟓𝟖

b. |𝑟1 + 𝑟2 + 𝑟3 | = √(5 + 1 − 1)2 + (−2 + 4 + 2)2 + (3 − 2 − 2)2

= √(5)2 + (4)2 + (−2)2
= √25 + 16 + 4
= √𝟒𝟐 or
≈ 𝟔. 𝟒𝟖

c. 2𝑟1 − 𝑟2 − 3𝑟3 = 2(5𝑖 − 2𝑗 + 3𝑘) – (𝑖 + 4𝑗 − 2𝑘) – 3(−𝑖 + 2𝑗 − 2𝑘)

= 10𝑖 − 4𝑗 + 6𝑘 – 𝑖 – 4𝑗 + 2𝑘 + 3𝑖 – 6𝑗 + 6𝑘
= (10 – 1 + 3) 𝑖 + (− 4 – 4 – 6)𝑗 + (6 + 2 + 6)𝑘
= 12𝑖 − 14𝑗 + 14𝑘

d. 𝑅⃗⃗ = 𝑟1 + 𝑟2 + 𝑟3
= (5𝑖 − 2𝑗 + 3𝑘) + (𝑖 + 4𝑗 − 2𝑘) + (−𝑖 + 2𝑗 − 2𝑘)
= (5𝑖 + 𝑖 −𝑖) + (− 2𝑗 + 4𝑗+ 2𝑗) + (3𝑘 − 2𝑘 − 2𝑘)
= 5𝑖 + 4𝑗 − 𝑘
⃗
𝑅 𝟓𝒊 + 𝟒𝒋 − 𝒌 𝟓𝒊 + 𝟒𝒋 − 𝒌
e. Unit vector = = or
|𝑅| √𝟒𝟓 𝟔.𝟕𝟏

2. Find the unit vector parallel to the resultant of vectors

𝑟1 = 𝑖 − 2𝑗 + 3𝑘 & 𝑟2 = 𝑖 + 𝑗 – 2𝑘

Solution:
𝑅⃗⃗ = 𝑟1 + 𝑟2
= (𝑖 − 2𝑗 + 3𝑘) + (𝑖 + 𝑗 – 2𝑘)
= (𝑖 + 𝑖) + (− 2𝑗 + 𝑗) + (3𝑘– 2𝑘)
=2𝑖–𝑗+𝑘

|R| = √(2)2 + (−1)2 + (1)2

= √4 + 1 + 1
= √𝟔

Thus, the unit vector parallel to 𝑅⃗⃗ is,

⃗
𝑅 𝟐𝐢–𝐣+𝐤 2 1 1
= |𝑅| = = 𝑖– 𝑗+ 𝑘
√6 √ 6 √ 6 √6

DESTACAMENTO, JAKE MATH 502c Problem Set 2

 3. Determine the vector having initial point 𝑃(𝑥1, 𝑦1,𝑧1) and terminal point 𝑄(𝑥2, 𝑦2, 𝑧2)and finds its
magnitudes.

Answer:

The vector joining 𝑃(𝑥1, 𝑦1,𝑧1) and 𝑄(𝑥2, 𝑦2, 𝑧2) is ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑃𝑄

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑃𝑄 = (Position vector of Q) – (Position vector of P)
= (𝑥2, 𝑦2, 𝑧2) – (𝑥1, 𝑦1,𝑧1)
= (𝑥2 – 𝑥1)𝑖 + (𝑦2 – 𝑦1)𝑗 + (𝑧2 – 𝑧1)𝑘

And the magnitude is:

|𝑃𝑄
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | = √(𝑥2 − 𝑥1 )2 + (𝑦2 − 𝑦1 )2 + (𝑧2 − 𝑧1 )2

DESTACAMENTO, JAKE MATH 502c Problem Set 2