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Semester B 2014/15
4. Vector Algebra
4.1 Vectors
Basic Definition
A vector is a directed line segment. The directed line segment AB has initial point A and terminal point B;
its length is denoted by |AB|. Two vectors are equal if they have the same length and direction.
Component Form
Definition. Given the points A(x1 , y1 , z1 ) and B(x2 , y2 , z2 ), the vector a with representation AB is
a = hx2 x1 , y2 y1 , z2 z1 i.
Length. The length or magnitude of the vector a = ha1 , a2 , a3 i is
q
|a| = a21 + a22 + a23 .
Vector addition/subtraction :
Scalar multiplication :
Properties of vector operations. If a, b, and c are vectors and k and l are scalars, then
1. a + b = b + a.
2. a + (b + c) = (a + b) + c.
3. a + 0 = a.
4. a + (a) = 0.
5. k(a + b) = ka + kb.
6. (k + l)a = ka + la.
7. (kl)a = k(la).
8. 0a = 0.
9. 1a = a.
Unit Vectors
Definition. A vector a of length 1 is called a unit vector.
Direction vector. The (unit) direction vector of the vector a = ha1 , a2 , a3 i, a 6= 0 is
q
a1 a2 a3
a
=
, ,
,
where
|a| = a21 + a22 + a23 .
|a|
|a| |a| |a|
a
The equation a = |a|
expresses a in terms of its length and direction.
|a|
Standard unit vectors. The standard unit vectors in three-dimensional space are
i = h1, 0, 0i,
j = h0, 1, 0i,
k = h0, 0, 1i.
Semester B 2014/15
2. a b = b a.
3. a (b + c) = a b + a c.
5. 0 a = 0.
cos =
or
ab
.
|a||b|
Semester B 2014/15
3. a (b + c) = a b + a c.
4. (a + b) c = a c + b c.
5. a (b c) = (a b) c.
6. a (b c) = (a c)b (a b)c.
or
sin =
|a b|
.
|a||b|
= PQ F.