Vectors

H070
H470Topic
TopicTitle
Title

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 Vectors
• Defining vectors
• Column notation
• Multiplication by scalar
• Negative vectors
• Addition of vectors
• Subtraction of vectors
• Problem solving

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 Q R

P
S

PQ RS
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 Q
R 4

a
5 –4
b

P 3 S

PQ =a= RS =b=
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 Column notation

The TOP number describes

the HORIZONTAL
movement.
POSITIVE means RIGHT.
NEGATIVE means LEFT.

The BOTTOM number

describes the VERTICAL
movement.
POSITIVE means UP.
NEGATIVE means DOWN.
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 b=

3b = ?

3b =
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 Vector multiplied by scalar
If we multiply a VECTOR by a scalar it’s the same as
adding to that many times.

3b = b + b + b

In column vector form we just have to multiply both the

HORIZONTAL and VERTICAL components by the
number.

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 a=
a –a

–a =

If we take the negative of a vector it’s the same as

just reversing the direction of the vector.
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 a

a a
a

I haven’t mentioned anything about an origin. The

vector could be anywhere and still be the same.
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 b ½b –b

2a
–2a
a
b

a= b=
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 a= b=
a b

a+b

a+b=

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 b+a
a=
a b

b=
b+a=

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 When adding two vectors in a diagram we place the
second vector at the end of the first.

In column notation this means we just add the

HORIZONTAL and VERTICAL components.

If we have 2 vectors a and b, it doesn’t matter which

order we add them, we get the same RESULTANT vector.
This is the COMMUTATIVE LAW.

a+b=b+a
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 b=

a–b b
–b

a
a=

a – b = a + (–b) =
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 Challenge
You have a large supply of vectors a and b which are:

a= b=

Starting at the origin you take a

2 step walk where each step is
either a or b or a scalar multiple of
a or b.
Define the vector expression from
the origin to each of the corner Which coordinate points
positions on a –5 to 5 grid. can you visit within the grid?
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