MEP Jamaica: STRAND J

UNIT 38 Vectors: Student Text Contents

STRAND J: Vectors and Matrices Unit 38 Vectors

Student Text
Contents
Section 38.1 38.2 Vectors and Scalars Vectors and Geometry

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UNIT 38 Vectors: Student Text

38 Vectors
38.1 Vectors and Scalars
Vectors are used in Unit 36 to describe translations. The diagram shows the translation of
4 a triangle by the vector . 2

image

object

4 2

4 Note that the vector specifies how far the triangle is to be moved and the direction, 2

i.e. 4 units horizontally (to the right) and 2 units vertically (up). All vectors have length (or size) and direction. Quantities which do not have direction, but only length or size are known as scalar quantities. Quantities like mass, length, area and speed are scalars because they have size only, while quantities like force and velocity are vectors because they have a direction as well as a size. The two points A and B are shown in the diagram. The displacement (change of position) of B from A is a vector because it has length and a direction.

A a B

3 We can write this displacement as AB = or label the vector a and write 2 3 a = AB or a = and in this format, it is called a column vector. 2

The notation a is used when a is a vector and the notation a is used when a is a scalar.

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UNIT 38 Vectors: Student Text

The length of a vector is called its magnitude or modulus: we write this as

x If a = , then, using Pythagoras' Theorem, y

a .

a
2 2

a =

x +y
2

3 So for the vector a = , 2

a = 32 + ( 2 )

9+4 =

13

Vectors can simply be added and subtracted.

4 3 Consider + which can be represented as shown in the following diagram. 2 4
4 2

3 4

7 2

So, from the diagram, the addition of these two vectors can be written as a single vector
7 , which is just the addition of each component of the original vector. In general, 2 a c a + c + = b d b + d

A similar result is true for subtraction,

a c a c = b d b d

A vector can be multiplied by a scalar, i.e. a number, by multiplying each component by that scalar.
3 12 For example, 4 = . 2 8

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In general,

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UNIT 38 Vectors: Student Text

a k a k = b k b

Worked Example 1
a Write each of the following vectors in the form . b
(a) (b) (c)
B A

AB
BC AC
C

Solution
From the diagram: (a)
7 AB = 2 4 BC = 7
3 AC = 5

(b)

(c)

Note
In the Worked Example above, we see that

AB + BC = AC
This is always true so that, for example,

OA + AB = OB
or
a

A B b O

a + AB = b AB = b a
Similarly,
BA = a b

as the direction is the opposite of AB .

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UNIT 38 Vectors: Student Text

Worked Example 2
3 2 3 If a = , b = and c = find: 7 4 4

(a)

2a

(b)

b+c

(c)

ab

(d)

2a + 3b

Solution
(a)
2a

3 2 3 6 = 2 = = 7 2 7 14
2 + ( 3) 2 3 1 = + = = 8 4 4 4 + ( 4)
32 3 2 1 = = = 7 4 11 7 ( 4) 3 2 3 3 2 6 6 2 = 2 + 3 = + = + 7 2 7 3 ( 4) 14 12 4 6+6 12 = = 2 14 + ( 12)

(b)

b+c

(c)

ab

(d)

2 a + 3b

Note
When the vector starts at the origin, it is called a position vector.

Worked Example 3
OA and OB are position vectors relative to the origin, O. Given the points A (3, 1) and B ( 1, 2)

(a) (b) (c)

write down OA and OB as column vectors express AB as a column vector calculate the length of AB .

Solution
(a) (b)

3 OA = , 1

1 OB = 2

3 2 1 -3 -2 -1 0 OB -1

OA

As OA + AB = OB ,
1 3 4 AB = OB OA = = 2 1 3

1
AB

-2

This can be seen in the diagram opposite.

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(c)
OB

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UNIT 38 Vectors: Student Text

( 4)2 + ( 3)2
16 + 9

= 25
=5

Exercises
1. Which of the following are vectors and which are scalars: (a) (d) Time Force (b) (e) Velocity Distance (c) (f) Speed Temperature

2.

Use the points in the grid below to write the vectors given in column vector form. (a)
A B

AB

(b) (d) (f) (h)

AC

(c) (e)

DE

BE AD
DC

EB
CD

(g)

What is the relationship between

AC and CA ?
3. Plot the positions of the points A, B, C, D, E and F relative to a point O if: (a)
3 OA = 2 2 BD = 2

(b)

5 OB = 2 4 CE = 1

(c)

3 AC = 2 1 DF = 4

(d)

(e)

(f)

Write the vector EF as a column vector.

4.

4 3 0 If a = , b = and c = , find: 7 5 4

(a) (d) (g) (j)

a+b ab

(b) (e) (h) (k)

b+c ba

(c) (f) (i) (l)

a+c ca 4c

3a

2b 5c 3a
5

2 a + 3b

4b 2 c

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UNIT 38 Vectors: Student Text

2 4 2 If a = , b = and c = , find: 1 1 4

(a) (d)

3a + 2b 4c + 2a

(b) (e)

4a + 3c 3c 2 a

(c) (f)

6a 3b 3a + 2b 5c

6.

2 3 4 If a = , b = and c = , solve the equations below to find the 1 2 3

column vector x. (a) (d) (g)

a+x=b 2x + a = b
3a + 2 x = 4b

(b) (e) (h)

xc=a

(c) (f) (i)

x+b=c 4a x = c
3b + 2 x = c

3a + 2 x = c
a 2 x = 4c

7.

4 3 2 In this question a = , b = and c = . 2 1 1

For each part draw the vectors listed on separate diagrams. (a) (d)
a, b, a + b

(b) (e)

a, c, a c

(c)

b, 2b, 3b

c, c, 2 c

a, b, 2 a 3b

8.

The vertices of a quadrilateral, OPQR are (0, 0), (4, 2), (6, 10) and (2, 8) respectively. x (a) Using a vector method, express in the form , the vector y (i) (ii) (b) (c)

OP RQ

Calculate OP , the magnitude of OP . State TWO geometrical relationships between the line segments OP and RQ. (CXC)

9.

b Given that PR = 2 b 3b PS = , b + 1

and (a) (b)

express EACH of the vectors RP and RS in the simplest form determine the values of b if PR =

20 units .

(CXC)
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UNIT 38 Vectors: Student Text

38.2 Vectors and Geometry

Vectors can be used to solve problems in geometry. In two dimensions, it is possible to describe the position of any point using two vectors. For example, using the vectors a and b shown in the diagram:
I J K L

AC = 2 a EF = a

E b

IK = 2 a AF = a + b AL = 3a + 2 b

LE = 3a b

Note that AB, EF and IK are all parallel vectors as they have the same direction.

Worked Example 1
In the parallelogram shown below, AB = b and AD = d . Also X is the midpoint of BC and Y lies on DC such that DY = 2CY .
D Y C

Express the following vectors in terms of b and d. (a) (d)

AC
DY

(b) (e)

BX AY

(c) (f)

AX XY

Solution
(a)
AC = AD + DC

=b+d
(b)
BX =

1 BC 2 1 = d 2
7

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(c)

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UNIT 38 Vectors: Student Text

AX = AB + BX

=b+

1 d 2

(d)

DY =

2 DC 3 2 = b 3

(e)

AY = AD + DY
=d+

2 b 3

(f)

XY = XA + AY
1 2 = b + d + d + b 2 3
2 1 bb + d d 3 2 1 1 = b+ d 3 2 =

Worked Example 2
The diagram shows 2 identical parallelograms. The vector q = AF and the vector
p = AB . The point M is the midpoint of CD.
F E D

(a) (b)

Show that BM is parallel to AD. Show that EM is parallel to FC.

Solution
(a)

BM = BC + CM
=p+ 1 q 2

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UNIT 38 Vectors: Student Text

AD = AC + CD
= 2p + q

As AD = 2 BM , the lines AD and BM must be parallel.

(b)

EM = ED + DM
1 = p + q 2
=p

1 q 2

FC = FD + DC
= 2p q
As FC = 2 EM , the lines FC and EM must be parallel.

Worked Example 3
A 3y P D 3x C

In the figure above, not drawn to scale, ABCD is a parallelogram such that DC = 3x and DA = 3y . The point P is on DB such that DP : PB = 1: 2 . (a) Express in terms of x and y. (i) (ii) (iii) (b) (c) (d)

AB BD DP

Show that AP = x 2 y . Given that E is the mid-point of DC, prove that A, P and E are collinear.
2 1 Given that x = and y = , use a vector method to prove that triangle AED 0 1

is isosceles. (CXC)

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38.2 Solution
(a) (i) (ii) (iii) (b) (c)

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UNIT 38 Vectors: Student Text

AB = DC = 3x
BD = BA + AD = 3x 3y = 3 ( x + y)

DP =

1 1 1 DB = BD = ( 3) ( x + y) = x + y 3 3 3

AP = AD + DP = 3y + ( x + y) = x 2 y
DE =
3 3 1 x . so PE = PD + DE = x y + x = x y 2 2 2

Hence

2 PE = x 2 y = AP
that is PE and AP have the same direction. So A, P and E are collinear. (d) We need to find two sides of equal length. Now
DE =

3 3 2 3 x= = 2 2 0 0

and DE = 32 + 0 2 =

9+0 = 3 x 2

9 =3

AE = AD + DE = 3y +

1 3 2 = 3 + 1 2 0

3 3 = + 3 0 0 = 3
So AE =

0 2 + ( 3) =

0+9 =

9 =3

As

AE = DE = 3, triangle ADE is isosceles.

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UNIT 38 Vectors: Student Text

Exercises
1. The diagram shows a grid made up of sets of equally spaced parallel lines. The vectors OA = a and OE = b are shown on the grid.
P Q R S T

E b

Write each of the following vectors in terms of a and b. (a) (e) (i) (m) 2.
OD

(b) (f) (j) (n)

AB

(c) (g) (k) (o)

BG

(d) (h) (l) (p)

IS

JP
PK
CP

ES PG
GE

AQ

CS SE
TA

RF
IJ

The diagram shows a grid made up of two sets of parallel lines. The vectors OA = a and OE = b are shown on the grid.
A a O b B

Copy the grid and use the following information to label each point where lines meet. OC = 2b OD = a + b DE = a EF = b H I = b KL = a BP = 4a + 3b
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BG = a + b IJ

BH = 2 a + 3b JK

= ab

= 3b + a

OM = 4a + 3b BQ = a + 2b
11

MN = a AR = 2 a + 4b

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UNIT 38 Vectors: Student Text

The diagram shows the parallelogram OABC, in which OA = a and OC = c .

A B

(a)

Write the following vectors in terms of a and c. (i) (iv)

AB

(ii) (v)

CB OB

(iii) (vi)

BC CA

AC

(b) If X is the midpoint of AB and Y is the midpoint of BC, find the following in terms of a and c. (i) (iv)

AX
OY

(ii) (v)

OX
XY

(iii)

CY

4.

The diagram shows the parallelogram OPQR; the vectors p = OP and q = OR .

P p O

q Q

(a) (b) (c)

If M is the midpoint of PR, find OM . If N is the midpoint of OQ, find ON Comment on your answers to (a) and (b).

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UNIT 38 Vectors: Student Text

The diagram shows the rectangle OABC. The vectors i and j are such that OA = 6 j and OC = 8i .
A B

(a)

If the point D lies on AB such that AD = 3 DB , find AD and OD in terms of i and j. If E lies on BC such that 2 BE = EC , find CE and OE . The point M is the midpoint of DE. Find OM .

(b) (c)

6.

In the diagram, BCEF is a parallelogram and AB = BC = CD . The vector p = BF and q = BC . The point M is the midpoint of AF and N is the midpoint of DE.
F M p E

(a) (b)

Express AM and AN in terms of p and q. Find MN in terms of p and q and explain why MN is parallel to AD.

7.

In the triangle ABC, AB = b and AC = c . Use vectors to show that: (a) (b) a line joining the midpoint of AB and BC is parallel to AC, a line joining the midpoint of AB and AC is parallel to BC.
b B

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8.

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UNIT 38 Vectors: Student Text

The shape in the diagram shows the vectors a, b and c. M is the midpoint of AE.
B b a C c a D

Find each of the following in terms of a, b and c. (a) (d)

AE

(b) (e)

AM

(c)

BA

MD

CM

9.

ABCD is a parallelogram in which AB = b and AD = d . AF = 4 BF BG = 4 CG CH = 4 DH DE = 4 AE Show that EFGH is also a parallelogram.

A E d

D H G

F b B

10.

In the parallelogram ABCD, AB = b and AD = d . Also BE = 2 AE . (a) Find DE and explain why
1 AF = d + b d for 3 some values of .

D d

E b

(b)

Find AC and explain why

AF = b + d d for some
value of . (c) Hence find the values of and .

F
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UNIT 38 Vectors: Student Text

In the parallelogram ABCD, AD = d and AB = b . The point X is the midpoint of AB. The lines AC and DX intersect at Q.
D a C

Find AQ in terms of a and b.

C O

12.

OABC is a parallelogram.

OA = 3p 2q
OC = 5p + 6q

B A

(a) (b)

Find AC . Express your answer as simply as possible in terms of p and q. D is the point where BD = 2p + 6q . Using vector methods, show that D lies on the line AC produced.

13.

OABC is a parallelogram. OA = a, OC = c . BCE is a straight line, BE = 3 BC . D is the midpoint of OC.

(a)

Write in terms of a and c, (i)

AD ,

(ii) OE . (b) Deduce the ratio of the lengths of AD and OE.

E

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UNIT 38 Vectors: Student Text

KLMN is a parallelogram with position vectors

2 6 3 OK = , OL = and ON = . 3 3 5

(a) (b)

Use a vector method to determine the position vector OM . The point H lies on KM such that KH = HM . Find KH and LH .

(c)

Use a vector method to show that H is also the midpoint of LN. (CXC)

15.
A D

X a

ABCD is a quadrilateral, not drawn to scale, with AB = a, BC = b, and AD = 2 BC . The point X divides BD in the ratio 3 : 2. (a) (b) Express BD and BX in terms of a and b. Show that XC =

1 (3a b) . 5

(CXC)

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