Topic 4Core: Vectors

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24 hours

The aim of this topic is to introduce the use of vectors in two and three dimensions, and to facilitate solving problems involving points, lines and planes.

Content

Mathematics HL guide

4.1

Concept of a vector.

Representation of vectors using directed line segments.

Unit vectors; base vectors i, j, k.

Aim 8: Vectors are used to solve many problems in position location. This can be used to save a lost sailor or destroy a building with a laser-guided bomb. Appl: Physics SL/HL 1.3 (vectors and scalars); Physics SL/HL 2.2 (forces and dynamics). TOK: Mathematics and knowledge claims. You can perform some proofs using different mathematical concepts. What does this tell us about mathematical knowledge? Proofs of geometrical properties using vectors.

Components of a vector:

v1 v = v2 =v1i + v2 j + v3 k . v 3

Algebraic and geometric approaches to the following:

the sum and difference of two vectors;

the zero vector 0 , the vector v ;

multiplication by a scalar, kv ;

magnitude of a vector, v ;

magnitude of AB .

position vectors OA = a . Distance between points A and B is the

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AB= b a

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4.2
vw = v w cos , where is the angle between v and w .

The definition of the scalar product of two vectors. Link to 3.6. For non-zero vectors, v w = 0 is equivalent to the vectors being perpendicular. For parallel vectors, v w = v w.

Appl: Physics SL/HL 2.2 (forces and dynamics). TOK: The nature of mathematics. Why this definition of scalar product?

Properties of the scalar product:

v w = w v ;

u (v + w ) = u v + u w ;

(kv ) w = k (v w ) ;

v v = v .

The angle between two vectors.

Perpendicular vectors; parallel vectors. Knowledge of the following forms for equations of lines. Parametric form:
= x x0 + l , = y y0 + m , = z z0 + n .

4.3

Vector equation of a line in two and three dimensions: r = a + b .

Appl: Modelling linear motion in three dimensions. Appl: Navigational devices, eg GPS. TOK: The nature of mathematics. Why might it be argued that vector representation of lines is superior to Cartesian?

Simple applications to kinematics. Cartesian form:

x x0 y y0 z z0 . = = l m n

The angle between two lines.

4.4

Coincident, parallel, intersecting and skew lines; distinguishing between these cases.

Mathematics HL guide

Points of intersection.

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4.5
vw = v w sin n , where is the angle between v and w and n is the unit normal vector whose direction is given by the righthand screw rule.

The definition of the vector product of two vectors.

Appl: Physics SL/HL 6.3 (magnetic force and field).

Properties of the vector product:

Mathematics HL guide

vw = w v ;

u (v + w ) = u v + u w ;

(kv ) w = k (v w ) ;

vv = 0.

Geometric interpretation of v w .

Areas of triangles and parallelograms.

4.6

Vector equation of a plane r = a + b + c .

Use of normal vector to obtain the form r n =a n.

Cartesian equation of a plane ax + by + cz = d. Link to 1.9. Geometrical interpretation of solutions.

4.7

Intersections of: a line with a plane; two planes; three planes.

Angle between: a line and a plane; two planes.

TOK: Mathematics and the knower. Why are symbolic representations of three-dimensional objects easier to deal with than visual representations? What does this tell us about our knowledge of mathematics in other dimensions?
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