USING VECTORS_
ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION-
The addition may be represented graphically by placing the start of the arrow b at the tip of the arrow a,
and then drawing an arrow from the start of a to the tip of b. The new arrow drawn represents the
vector a + b.
To subtract b from a, place the end points of a and b at the same point, and then draw
an arrow from the tip of b to the tip of a. That arrow represents the vector a − b.
Adding and subtracting of vectors operation and example problems are given
below.
Operations on Vectors:
1. Addition of vectors:
Let = , = . Join OB.
Then represents the addition (sum) of the vectors veca and vecb.
This is written as + = Thus = + = +
This is known as the triangle law of addition of vectors which states that, if two vectors are
represented in magnitude and direction by the two sides of a triangle taken in the same order,
then their sum is represented by the third side taken in the reverse order.
Applying the triangle law of addition of vectors in
ΔABC, we have BC + CA = BA ⇒ BC+ CA = − AB
⇒ AB + BC + CA = 0
Thus the sum of the vectors representing the sides of a triangle taken in order is the null
vector.
2. Subtraction of vectors:
If and are given two vectors, then the subtraction of from is defined as the sum of
and − and denoted by − .
− = + ( − )
Let = and =
Then = + = +
To subtract from , produce BA toAB' such that AB = AB'.
∴ = − = −
Now by the triangle law of addition
= + = + ( ) = −
Example Problems for Adding and Subtracting of Vectors:
Example problem 1:
The position vectors of the points A, B, C, D are , , + , − respectively.
Find and
Solution:
Given that
= ; = ; = + ; = −
= − = − ( − ) = − + = −
= −
= ( + ) − = +
Example problem 2:
= + - , = + + , Find adding and subtracting of vectors
Solution:
Subtracting the two vector,
= -
= + + - - +
= - +
Adding the two vector,
= + - + + +
= + +
MULTIPLICATION –
Basically
a vector means it is having a magnitude and direction. We can perform three
types of multiplication operation in vector.
Multiplying a vector by a scalar
Vector multiplication using scalar product
Multiplication of vectors using matrices.
If we multiply a vector by a scalar we will get again a vector. But if we multiply the vectors
using scalar product method we will get a scalar value. We will see the vector multiplication
using some examples.
Multiplying a Vector by a Scalar:
Multiplying a vector by a scalar mean we just multiply a scalar with the vectors magnitude.
We won’t consider about the direction. It will be same direction. It is like the following.
Let us see an example for this.
Example:
Three vectors having the magnitude 5, 6 and 7. Multiply the vectors using the scalar 9. Find
the resultant vector.
Solution:
Here they are giving the magnitudes 5, 6, and 7.
So the vectors is
If we multiply this vector by the scalar 9 we get
This is the resultant vector.
Vector multiplication using scalar product:
Scalar multiplication is defined by dot. Here dot is used to indicate the scalar multiplication
of any two vectors. In scalar product the result will be a scalar. We will multiply the magnitude of
the vectors alone.
Here is the angle of the resultant vector.
Example:
And
Find the scalar product of the above vectors using scalar multiplication method.
Solution:
Scalar product means we have to multiply the magnitude alone.
Multiplication of Vectors Using Matrices:
Multiplication of vector using matrices mean it indicates the vector product of the vectors. it
is otherwise called as cross product. It is indicated using the symbol
If
We can denote this in a matrices form
Example:
Find the vector product of the following vectors using vector cross
product
Solution:
If we write this in matrix form
This is the resultant vector for this.
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