1.

Vectors algebra
Scalars and vectors
Unit vector
Addition & subtraction
Vector multiplication

1. Vector algebra: Scalars and vectors

Quantity

Vector

Scalar
Only has magnitude
Represented as A (italics)
Example:

Has both magnitude and direction

Represented as A or A
The magnitude of A is |A| or A
Example:

A field is a function that specifies a particular quantity everywhere in a region.

If the quantity is scalar (or vector), the filed is said to be a scalar (or vector).
Example:

1. Vector algebra: Unit vector

A unit vector along A, aA , is defined as a vector whose magnitude is unity and has the
same direction as A.

Ax a x Aa y Az a z
A A
aA

A A
Ax2 Ay2 Az2

aA 1

Thus,
A Ax a x Ay a y Az a z Aa A
2

1. Vector algebra: Addition & Subtraction

Addition or subtraction of vectors deal with addition and subtraction the vector
component.
Law

Addition/Subtraction

Scalar multiplication

Commutative

AB=BA

kA = Ak

Associative

A (B C) = (A B) C

k(lA) = (kl)A

Distributive

k(A B) = kA kB

From this law we can calculate a distance vector, r for a displacement from point P to point
Q as,

rPQ rQ rP
(xQ -x P )i (yQ -y P )j (zQ -z P )k

1. Vector algebra: Vector multiplication

There are two type vector multiplication, which are,
1.

Scalar product / dot multiplication: A B = C

2.

Vector product / cross multiplication: A B = C

3.

Vector division A/B is unjustified.

1. Vector algebra: Vector multiplication

Dot product

A B AB cos AB

OR

A B xA xB y A yB z A zB

Law

Examples

Commutative

AB=BA

Distributive 1

A (B C) = A B A C

Distributive 2

A A = AA cos 0o = A2

*Note

ax ay ay az az ax 0
ax ax ay ay az az 1
5

1. Vector algebra: Vector multiplication

Cross product

A B AB sin AB a n

OR

ax
where, A B x A
xB

az
zA
zB

ay
yA
yB

AB C

( y A z B z A y B )a x ( x A z B z A xB )a y ( x A y B y A xB )a z
6

1. Vector algebra: Vector multiplication

Cross product
Law

Examples

Not Commutative

ABBA

Anticommutative

A B = B A

Not associative

A (B C) (A B) C

Distributive

A (B C) = A B A C

*Note

A A = AA sin 0o = 0

ax ay az ,

a y a x a z ,

ay az ax ,

a z a y a x ,

az ax ay

a x a z a y

1. Vector algebra: Vector multiplication

Scalar triple product

A (B C) B (C A) C ( A B)
is a volume of a parallelpiped
xA
A (B C) xB
xC

yA
yB
yC

zA
zB
zC

( y B zC z B yC ) x A ( xB zC z B xC ) y A ( xB yC y B xC ) z A

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Parallelepiped_volume.svg

1. Vector algebra: Vector multiplication

Vector triple product

A (B C) B( A C) C( A B)
( A B)C A(B C)
( A B)C C( A B)

Components of a vector
Scalar component AB of A along vector B
is given by;
= A
where is the unit vector for B.

Vector component AB of A along B is

given by;
= = (A )