VECTORS

Definition of Vector
A vector is a quantity with a magnitude and a direction, represented by an arrow. A vector has head A and tail B, represented as , or as a lowercase letter , . Do not think of vector has a segment with a fixed place. It is actually embedded throughout the coordinate plane. 2 vectors are equal if their magnitudes and directions are equal. A zero vector has no magnitude; it starts and ends at A.

Adding and Subtracting Vectors

Given 2 vectors, and , draw and Vector is called the sum of vectors and . .

Paralellogram rule
If ABCD is a parallelogram, then .

Properties of Vector Addition

If ( are vectors, then: (Commutative Property) (Associative Property)

(Identity Property of Addition)

Difference of 2 Vectors
is the vector with the same magnitude but opposite direction with .

Given 2 vectors

and , the difference of

and is vector .

, notated as

Given 3 points A, B, C, we have

Multiplying a Vector with a Scalar

Given real number k 0 and vector 0. The product of k and is notated and has the same direction with if k > 0 and has the opposite direction with if k < 0, and has magnitude | || | We define 0 .

Properties of Multiplying a Vector with a Scalar

Given vectors and , and real numbers h and k, we have: ( )

Resolving a vector into 2 vectors

, are vectors with different directions and Given is a vector. Draw CA//OB and CB//OA. Then . Since and are 2 vectors with the same direction, there is a real number such that . and are 2 vectors with the same direction, there is a Since real number such that . Thus .

Right-handed Coordinate System

Right-handed Coordinate System is comprised of 2 axes and that are perpenciular to one another. O is called the origin. The vectors and are the unit vectors and | | | | .

On the coordinate plane given any vector , draw and from A, draw perpendicular lines onto the x- and y- axes. Call the intersections Ax and Ay. We have . The ordered pair (Ax, Ay) is called the coordinate of vector . Thus, we can define equal vectors as vectors that have the same coordinates

Coordinate of a Point and Coordinate of Vector on Coordinate Plane

Given 2 points and , then

Coordinate of Vectors
Given ,

. Then:

Coordinate of Segment Midpoints and Triangle Centroids

Given segment AB with AB is and . Then, the midpoint of segment

Given triangle ABC with

. Then centroid G of triangle ABC is