VECTORS MAJOR IDEAS

1. Writing a vector AB

Given point A = ( 2, 3, 1) and B = ( 4, 2, 5) , find AB .

2

Answer: AB = 1
4

To find vector AB , you do end point minus initial point.

2. Find the length of AB .

To find the length (magnitude) of vector AB , use the magnitude formula from the packet
v1

2
2
2
which is v = v1 + v2 + v3 , where v = v2 .
Answer: 21
v
3

3. Find a unit vector in the direction of AB .

A unit vector is a vector with length of 1. to find a unit vector, divide the vector by its
2

21

magnitude.
Answer: 1

21

21

4. Write the equation of the line through points A and B.

According to your formula packet, the Vector Form of a Line is r = a + tb , where
a = initial point and b = the vector formed by the two points. Think of this as slopeintercept form of a line.
2 2

Answer: r = 3 + t 1
1 4

VECTORS MAJOR IDEAS

5. Given that u = 2i + 3 j 3k and v = 5i 2 j + 4k , find u v .

u v is the dot product, which is also known as the scalar product or inner product. To
find the dot product just multiply the i ' s , j ' s , and k ' s and sum them together.
Answer: u v = 8

6. Show that u = 2i + 3 j k and v = 5i 2 j + 4k are perpendicular.

(not enough to just show that the dot product is zero; you need to make a connection)

If the dot product is equal to zero, then the vectors are perpendicular. This is true
uv
. So, if the dot product
because of the cosine angle formula involving angles: cos =
u v
is zero, then the cosine of the angle between the vectors is zero, thus making the angle
between the two vectors 90o .

7. Find p and q so that u = 5i + 6 j k and v = 10i + pj + qk are parallel.

Vectors are parallel if they are scalar multiples of each other.

Answer: p = 12, q = 2

8. Find the angle between u = 3i 2 j + 4k and v = 2i 4 j + k .

Use the Angle between two vectors formula: cos =

uv
u v

Answer: 75.9o or 1.33

2 3
6 2


9. Given that L1 = 3 + t 2 and L2 = 5 + t 4 , find the angle between the the
1 4
8 1


two lines.

When finding the angle between two lines, you only need to use the vector part of the line
to find it. Identify the two vectors and use the angle between two vectors formula to find
the angle.
Answer: 75.9o or 1.33

VECTORS MAJOR IDEAS

2 3
6 2


10. The lines represented by L1 = 3 + t 2 and L2 = 5 + s 4 intersect at point
1 4
5 4


T. Find the coordinates of T.

Since the lines intersect then we can set the two lines equal to each other. Upon doing
that we can create a system of equations as such:
2 + 3t = 6 2 s
3 2t = 5 4 s

Now solve the system for one of the variables (if you solve the system correctly you
should get s = 5 and t = 1 ). Lets say you solve for t. take that value and plug it back
2
1

Answer: 5
into the line with t, distribute and add the points.
5