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Calculating the Coordinates of a Vector and the Midpoint of a Line Segment

The coordinates of a vector can be interpreted by a translation where we have chosen as a representative of this vector. What relationship connects the coordinates of and those of A and B? From this relationship, how can we calculate the coordinates of the midpoint of a segment if we know its extremities? I. Calculating the coordinates of a vector 1. Calculation formula (O, I, J) is an x-y plane, and A (xA, yA) and B (xB, yB) are two points. The coordinates of vector are given by the formula (xB-xA, yB-yA). Example: (O, I, J) is an x-y plane and A (2, 4), B (3, 1) are two points. Calculate the coordinates of vector . By applying the formula, we can write (-3-2, -1-(-4)), so is (-5, 3). We can check these coordinates by reading the graph, then plotting points A and B:

2. Application Statement: (O, I, J) is an x-y plane. Plot points E (3, 1), F (3, 5), G (4, 2), and H (2, 2) and prove that quadrilateral EFGH is a parallelogram.

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Solution: We simply have to prove the vectorial equation = coordinates of these two vectors. (3-(-3), 5-1), so (6, 4). (4-2(-2), 2-(-2)), so (6, 4). Vectors and have the same coordinates. We accept that two vectors with the same coordinates are equal. Therefore, = , so quadrilateral EFGH is a parallelogram.

. To do this, calculate the

II. Calculating the coordinates of the midpoint of a segment 1. Calculation formula (O, I, J) is an x-y plane and A (xA, yA), B (xB, yB) are two points. If M is the midpoint of segment [AB], then . Proof: If M is the midpoint of [AB], then = . Vectors and have the same direction, as A, M, and B are collinear. They have the same direction and are the same length, since MA = MB. Therefore, these two vectors are equal.

Let's call the coordinates of M (x, y), and write out the coordinates of (x xA, y yA) and (xB x, yB y).
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and

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Since vectors and are equal, we can denote that their coordinates are equal. Therefore, we find that x xA = xB x and y yA = yB y. These two equations are equivalent to: 2x = xA + xB and 2y = yA + yB, so and .

Therefore, we have . Example: (O, I, J) is an x-y plane and U (3, 2) and T (5, 4) are two points. Calculate the coordinates of midpoint H of segment [UT]. By applying the above formula, we can write , from which we find H (1, 3). We can check this calculation by plotting the points on the grid (O, I, J).

2. Application The formula for the coordinates of the midpoint of a segment gives us an alternative way of proving that a quadrilateral is a parallelogram. Statement: (O, I, J) is an x-y plane. Plot points K (4, 1), L (2, 3), M (6, 5), and N (4, 1), and prove that quadrilateral KLMN is a parallelogram.

Solution: We will prove that segments [KM] and [LN] have the same midpoint. To do this, lets call P the midpoint of [KM] and R the midpoint of [LN] and calculate the coordinates of these two points:

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, therefore P (1, 2). , therefore R (1, 2). As points P and R have the same coordinates, they are coincident or the same point. From this, we can work out that segments [KM] and [LN] have the same midpoint. The diagonals of quadrilateral KLMN have the same midpoint. Therefore, this quadrilateral is a parallelogram.

Reading the Coordinates of a Vector and Representing a Vector of Given Coordinates

On the chess board shown in figure 1, imagine that the knight on square D3 is displaced to F4: this displacement can be interpreted using a translation of a vector that transforms D3 into F4. But we could also think of the point of arrival (here F4) as the image of the point of departure (here D3) for two successive translations: one horizontal translation of two spaces to the right, and then a vertical translation of one space upwards. These two translations allow us to say that the coordinates of the vector are 2 and 1. I. Reading the coordinates of a vector A. General principle Take (O, I, J) as reference points on a plane and as a vector with as a representative. To read the coordinates of the vector , we can decompose the translation that transforms A into B, which is the translation of vector , into two successive translations: first a translation parallel to the axis (OI), and then a translation parallel to the axis (OJ).

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To use the terms we have been using, we say that to displace from A to B, we first displace parallel to (OI), and then parallel to (OJ). The displacement parallel to (OI) gives the x-coordinate of the vector: if this displacement is made in the direction of increasing x (from O towards I), it is positive; if this displacement is made in the direction of decreasing x (from I towards O), it is negative. The displacement parallel to (OJ) gives the y-coordinate of the vector: if this displacement is made in the direction of increasing y (from O towards J), it is positive; if this displacement is made in the direction of decreasing y (from J towards O), it is negative. Example: Consider figure 2.

To get from A to B, we need a displacement of 4 units parallel to (OI) in the direction of increasing x; the x-coordinate of the vector is therefore +4. Next we need a displacement of 2 units parallel to (OJ) in the direction of decreasing y; the y-coordinate of the vector is therefore 2. The vector therefore has the coordinates (4, 2). We denote this as (4, -2). B. Examples We want to read, from figure 3, the coordinates of vectors , , , , , , , and .

The coordinates of these vectors are: (-2, -3); (0, -4); (-6, 0); (4, 1);

(0, 2);

(2, -5);

(3, 0);

(-4, 3).

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Note: Some vectors are parallel to a reference axis, for example vector . This vector corresponds to a displacement of 0 units parallel to the axis (OI) (there is no horizontal displacement) and of 4 units parallel to the axis (OJ), in the direction of decreasing y. Its coordinates are therefore (0, 4). A particular case: The zero vector has coordinates (0, 0) against any reference point, since it is represented by a point. II. Representing a vector of given coordinates A. First example Represent a vector with coordinates (5, 1) against the reference grid (O, I, J). We are going to construct a representative of this vector . To do this, we chose any point A, for example A (1, 2), the we place the point B, which is the image of A under the translation of vector (-5, 1), following the principle set out in the first paragraph : from A, we make a displacement of 5 units parallel to (OI) in the direction of decreasing x (which corresponds to the x-coordinate 5 of ); next we make a displacement of 1 unit parallel to (OJ) in the direction of increasing y (which corresponds to the y-coordinate +1 of ). The point obtained is point B.

B. Other examples Example 1: We want to represent the following vectors on a reference grid (O, I, J): (4, -3); (0, 2); (-5, -2); (4, 6); (-4, 0).

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Example 2: (O, I, J) is a reference grid, and and are two vectors where (5, 2) and (-4, 3). We are given M (1, 3) and P (2, 1). We want to place the points R and S defined by the vector equations = and = . We should construct a representative of vector with origin M and a representative of vector with origin P. To do so we follow the method used in the example in Sec. II. A. First example.

Representing a Translation with a Vector

The concept of a translation, illustrated in figure 1, allows us to introduce the concept of a vector. Vectors are used in mathematics, and also in physics to represent, for example, a force or a speed. What relation is there between translations and vectors?
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I. Definition and notation of a vector In figure 2, ABDC, CDFE, EFHG, and GHJI are parallelograms.

We can say that: the translation that transforms A into B also transforms C into D; the translation that transforms C into D also transforms E into F; the translation that transforms E into F also transforms G into H; the translation that transforms G into H also transforms I into J. So the translation that transforms A into B, C into D, E into F, G into H, and I into J is the same. And so we can say that the pairs of points (A, B), (C, D), (E, F), (G, H), and (I, J) are representatives of the same vector. We write = = = = ; and is read as vector AB. We can also represent the vector as ( is read as vector u), and say that , , , , and all represent . So we can write: = = = = = Points A and B are called, respectively, the origin and terminal point of the representative . You should not confuse the vectors and , which are opposite vectors. On a diagram, a vector is represented by a line segment with an arrow, as we can see in figure 3.

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Note: A vector can have an infinite number of representatives. II. Vectors and translations Definition: The translation that transforms A into B is called a translation by vector . So we can say that: if D is the image of C under a translation by vector , then = ; if = , then D is the image of C under a translation by vector . Example 1: A translation transforms a point R into a point P; point T is the image of point O under this same translation. How should this be translated into a vector equation? The translation that transforms R into P also transforms O into T. So, by definition, we have = . Example 2: What translation is defined by the vector equation = ? The translation that transforms M into N also transforms W into Z, so Z is the image of W under the translation by vector . III. Characteristics of a vector Lets look again at the figure on which , , , and try to work out the characteristics of this vector. , and represent the same vector

The lines (AB), (CD), (EF), (GH), and (IJ) are all parallel to each other, because the opposite sides of a parallelogram are parallel to one another. So we can say that the lines (AB), (CD), (EF), (GH), and (IJ) have the same direction. This direction is called the direction of vector . Look at the order of the points in the pairs (A, B), (C, D), (E, F), (G, H), and (I, J): the diagram allows us to say that the sense of A towards B, of C towards D, of E towards F, of G towards H, or of I towards J is the same: this is indicated by the arrows of the representatives , , , , and . We call this the sense of vector .

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Finally, the lengths of the segments [AB], [CD], [EF], [GH], and [IJ] are equal, because the opposite sides of a parallelogram are the same length. The common length of the segments [AB], [CD], [EF], [GH], and [IJ] is called the magnitude or length of vector . In brief: A vector is characterized by its direction, its sense, and its length. Note: There is one vector that has no direction and no sense: it is the zero vector. The length of this vector is zero.

Representing the Composition of Two Translations with a Vector

A point can be transformed by two successive translations. How can this transformation be used to define the addition of two vectors? Also, how do we find the sum of any two vectors? I. Composition of two translations Look at figure 1.

M is a point in a plane, and are two unspecified vectors; M' is the image of M under the translation by vector and M'' is the image of M' under the translation by vector . So, M'' is the transformation of point M by two successive translations: the translation by vector , and then the translation by vector . We can say it is the composition of these two translations. This is how we construct it: and are representatives of and ; To construct M', we construct a parallelogram ABM'M so that ; M' is therefore the image of M under the translation by vector , or the vector ; To construct M'', we construct a parallelogram BCM''M' so that ; M'' is therefore the image of M' under the translation by vector , or the vector .

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Now we can demonstrate that ACM''M is a parallelogram. ABM'M and BCM''M' are parallelograms that we constructed. As the opposite sides of a parallelogram are parallel and the same length, we have: (AM) // (BM'), AM = BM', (BM') // (CM'') and BM'= CM''. So we can work out that: (AM) // (CM'') and AM = CM''. The quadrilateral ACM''M has two parallel sides that are the same length, so it is a parallelogram and M'' is therefore the image of M under the translation by vector . Property: To transform a point M by two successive translations by the vectors and amounts to transforming the point under the translation by vector . II. The sum of two vectors A. Definition The vector is called the vector sum of the vectors and . We can write: = + ; this is known as the triangle law for vectors.

The property demonstrated in the first paragraph can be stated again like this: the composition of the translation by vector and the translation by vector is the translation by vector + . B. Properties of the sum of two vectors Property 1: and are any two vectors. Then + = + . This property is illustrated by figure 4, showing a parallelogram ABCD where . We can see that + = + = , and + = + = , or

= +

and = +

= .

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Property 2: The sum of two opposite vectors. Two opposite vectors are represented by and ; using the triangle law we can then write: + = . represents a vector with zero length, since AA = 0. This vector is called the zero vector, and symbolized as . This is the only vector that does not have a direction, length, or a sense. The zero vector is represented by a point. In brief, the sum of two opposite vectors is equal to the zero vector. III. Constructing the sum of two vectors A. Using the triangle law for vectors and are any two vectors, represented respectively by and . To represent the sum of + , we construct a representative of with origin B, which we call . To do this, we construct the parallelogram BEDC. Then we have + = + = ; and so is a representative of the vector + .

B. Using a parallelogram and are any two vectors. We suppose that their representatives, called and same origin A. We construct the parallelogram ABDC; then we have: + = + . However since ABDC is a parallelogram, and so + = + = . And so the vector + is represented by . , have the = ,

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Using the Coordinate Plane in Vector Calculations

Using real numbers, we have been able to associate each point on a graph shown on a plane (O, x) with a number called its x coordinate. Likewise, we can associate each point on a plane (O, x, y) with two numbers that are the coordinates of the point. On a plane we can calculate the coordinates of a vector and carry out different types of vector analysis in order to solve geometry problems. 1. How do we locate a point on a plane? Lets begin by defining a plane. A plane is a trio of noncollinear points (the word trio means that the three points under consideration are ordered). In general, we call the plane (O, x, y), where O is the origin of the plane; the line (Ox) is the horizontal axis and the line (Oy) is the vertical axis. Next, using the plane, we associate a point with a pair of real numbers by drawing lines parallel to the axes and passing through the point.

For example, lets find the coordinates of A on the diagram above. The point where (Ox) and the line parallel to (Oy), passing through A, meet is called and the point where (Oy) and the line parallel to (Ox), passing through A, meet is called . To work out the coordinates of A: For the x coordinate of A, take the value of the point on the x-axis (Ox) starting at O;
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For the y coordinate of A, take the value of the point on the y-axis (Oy) starting at O; In this case the coordinates of the point A are (3, 2). Notes If the axes are perpendicular (O, x, y) is a right-angled xy-plane. 2. How do we define a vector? When are two vectors equal? Given a plane on which we have defined a unit of length, a vector is characterized in three ways: By the direction of the line (AB); By its sense: A towards B; And by its length: the distance AB. The vector is equal to the vector if these two vectors have: The same direction, i.e. (AB) // (CD); The same sense, which means that points B and D are at the same end of the line (AC); The same length, which means that AB = CD. In other words if and only if ABDC is a parallelogram. Also: if and only if the reflection of C through translation of A to B is D. if and only if [AD] and [BC] have the same midpoint. 3. What operations can we carry out on vectors? The sum of two vectors is a vector that can be made using the parallelogram rule: .

The multiplication of a vector by a real number is defined as follows: is a vector other than zero and k a real number other than zero, the vector is defined as follows: has the same direction as ; has the same sense as if k is positive, the opposite is true if k is negative. If k = -1, then , this defines the vector that is opposite to . Collinear vectors are vectors that have the same direction. Vectors and are collinear if and only if there is a real number k such that .

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4. What is the basis of vector analysis? On a coordinate plane (O, x, y), any vector is associated to a unique point M such that . The point M is the image of the origin O of the plane through translation of the vector . By definition, the coordinates of are those of M. If M has the coordinates , the vector has the coordinates below . . This is written or . For example, in the diagram

It follows that two vectors and are equal if and only if they have the same coordinates: and . It is possible to work out the coordinates of any vector given the coordinates of the points A and B. On a plane, if A has the coordinates and B has the coordinates , then the vector has the coordinates . If and are two vectors with the coordinates and , then: The sum of the two vectors and is vector with coordinates ; The product of vector and a real number k is vector with coordinates . Two vectors have the coordinates and . The collinear nature of vectors and is expressed as two equations: if and only if and . A simpler way of expressing this property is the cross-multiplication rule of proportionality:

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and

are collinear if and only if and

. are collinear because and respectively, then this

For example, the vectors

. If A and B are two points whose coordinates are gives us .

Reminder: A plane is a trio of noncollinear points. We associate each point on the plane with two real numbers, its coordinates, by drawing the lines parallel to the axes and passing through this point. On a plane showing a unit of length, a vector is characterized in three ways: its direction, its sense, and its length. The sum of two vectors and is vector with coordinates . The product of vector and a real number k is vector with coordinates . The vectors and are collinear if and only if .

Using the Parallelogram Law for Vectors

Vectors are defined using translations. We have already learned that translations are defined using parallelograms. So vectors and parallelograms are linked. But how? I. Parallelograms and vector equations A. Characterizing a parallelogram using a vector equation Previously, translation was defined as follows: If ABDC is a parallelogram, then the translation that transforms A to B also transforms C to D. We also learned that if the translation that transforms A to B also transforms C to D, then . These two properties allow us to state the following property: If ABDC is a parallelogram, then .

Also, if , then ABDC is a parallelogram. Note: The order of the points C and D is not the same in the name of the parallelogram as it is in the vector equation: ABDC and .
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Special case: The parallelogram ABDC can be flattened, which happens when the points A, B, C, and D are collinear.

In summary:

means that ABDC is a parallelogram (possibly flattened).

B. Vector equations obtained from a parallelogram Take a parallelogram ABDC. From it we obtain the vector equation .

But this parallelogram could also be called ACDB. From this we obtain the vector equation .

If we call this parallelogram BACD, we obtain the vector equation

If we call this parallelogram CABD, we obtain the vector equation

In summary: A parallelogram allows us to write four vector equations. Lets look at the equation . The vectors are the same length. Each equation of two vectors allows us to write the equation of the opposite vectors: . II. Vector equation and midpoint

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We saw in a previous paragraph that if , then ABDC is a parallelogram. And we know that if a quadrilateral ABDC is a parallelogram, then its diagonals [AD] and [BC] have the same midpoint. From this we can work out the following property: If , then the lines [AD] and [BC] have the same midpoint.

Also, if the lines [AD] and [BC] have the same midpoint, then ABDC is a parallelogram and .

Combining Two Rotations

Figure 1 illustrates a combination of two rotations of 180 about centers O and O'. What is the effect on a figure of two successive rotations of an initial image of 180 about two different centers? How is the final result related to the translations? I. Studying an example Point O and point O' are two distinct points on a plane. Points A, B, and C are three distinct points on a plane, and we can assume that they are not collinear in order to avoid a particular case. We construct the points A', B', and C' that are respectively the images of A, B, and C under a rotation of 180 about center O. Next, we construct the points A'', B'', and C'' that are respectively the images of A', B', and C' under a rotation of 180 about center O'.

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We say that the points A'', B'', and C'' are respectively the images of A, B, and C under a composition of the rotation of 180 about center O and the rotation of 180 about center O'.

We can draw the vectors , , and : Note that they are equal. This means that there is a translation that transforms A onto A'', B onto B'', and C onto C''. To be more precise: We can draw the vector , and note that the vectors and have the same direction and the same sense and that the magnitude of vector is twice the magnitude of vector ; we can write . In brief: We note that A'', B'', and C'' are the respective images of A, B, and C under the translation by vector . By this, we also mean that the composition of the rotation by 180 about center O and the rotation by 180 about center O' is the translation by vector . II. Property and demonstration Property: The composition of the rotation of 180 about center O and the rotation of 180 about center O' is the translation by vector . Demonstration: Points O and O' are two distinct points on a plane and A is a point on a plane. We construct the point A' that is the image of A under a rotation of 180 about center O. Next, we construct the point A'' that is the image of A' under a rotation of 180 about center O'. The point A'' is therefore the image of point A under the composition of the rotation of 180 about center O and the rotation of 180 about center O'.

By the definition of a rotation of 180, O is the midpoint of [AA'] and O' is the midpoint of [A'A'']. It follows that the line (OO') is a line through the midpoints of two sides of triangle AA'A''. By applying the triangle intercept theorem, we can deduce that the lines (OO') and (AA'') are parallel and that . The vectors and have the same direction and the same length, and also AA'' = 2 OO'. This can be translated, as in the first section, into the vector equation .

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This vector equation means that A'' is the image of A under the translation by vector . Therefore, we have demonstrated that the point A'', which is the image of point A under a rotation of 180 about center 0 and a rotation of 180 about center O', is the image of A under a translation by vector , which is the result that we set out to establish. III. Application Problem: Points I and J are two distinct points and ABCD is a plane quadrilateral. Construct the image of ABCD under the composition of a rotation of 180 about center I and a rotation of 180 about center J.

Solution: We know that the composition of a rotation of 180 about center I and a rotation of 180 about center J is the translation by vector . Therefore, we construct the points A', B', C', and D' that are the respective images of A, B, C, and D under this translation. The points A', B', C', and D' are defined by the equalities: .

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