Vector Algebra

VECTOR ALGEBRA
Introduction :
In our day to day life, we come across many queries such as – What is your height? How should a football player hit the ball to
give a pass to another player of his team?
Observe that a possible answer to the first query may be 1.6 meters, a quantity that involves only one value (magnitude)
which is a real number. Such quantities are called scalars.
However, an answer to the second query is a quantity which involves muscular strength (magnitude) and direction (in which
another player is positioned). Such quantities are called vectors.
Some Basic Concepts:

Let ‘l’ be any straight line in plane or three dimensional space. This line can be given two directions by means of arrowheads.
A line with one of these directions prescribed is called a Directed line .
If we restrict the line l to the line segment AB, then a magnitude is prescribed on the line l with one of the two directions, so
that we obtain a Directed line segment.
Thus, a directed line segment has magnitude as well as direction.
Definition 1 :A quantity that has magnitude as well as direction is called a vector.
Notice that a directed line segment is a vector denoted as 𝑨𝑩 𝒐𝒓 𝒂, and read as ‘vector AB’ or ‘vector a ’.
The point A from where 𝑨𝑩 starts is called its Initial point, and the point B where it ends is called its Terminal point.
The distance between initial and terminal points of a vector is called the magnitude (or length) of the vector, denoted as |𝑨𝑩|,
or |𝒂|, or AB or a. The arrow indicates the direction of the vector.
Note: Since the length is never negative, the notation |𝒂| < 0 has no meaning.
POSITION VECTOR OF A POINT
Consider a point P in space, having coordinates (x, y, z) with respect to the origin O(0, 0, 0). Then, the vector 𝑶𝑷 having O and
P as its initial and terminal points, respectively, is called the position vector of the point P with respect to O. usually denoted
by 𝒓.
Using distance formula, the magnitude of 𝑶𝑷 is given by
ǀ𝑶𝑷ǀ (orǀ𝒓ǀ or OP or r)= 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 + 𝒛𝟐
In practice, the position vectors of points A, B, C, etc., with respect to the origin O are denoted by 𝒂, 𝒃, 𝒄 , etc., respectively
DIRECTION COSINES
Consider the position vector 𝑶𝑷 or 𝒓 of a point P(x, y, z) .
Let angles α, β, γ made by the vector 𝒓 with the positive directions of x, y and z-axes respectively.
of these The angles α, β, γ are called its direction angles.
The cosine values angles, i.e., cosα, cosβ and cosγ are called direction cosines of the vector 𝒓.
usually denoted by l, m and n, respectively i.e, l= cosα,m= cosβ and n= cosγ
Note that the triangle OAP is right angled
𝒙
we have cosα=𝒓.
𝒚 𝒛
Similarly, from the right angled triangles OBP and OCP, we have cosβ= 𝒓 and cosγ=𝒓
Therefore x=lr, y=mr and z=nr
Thus, the coordinates of the point P may also be expressed as (lr, mr,nr).
The numbers lr, mr and nr, proportional to the direction cosines are called as direction ratios of vector 𝒓, and denoted as a, b
and c, respectively.
TYPES OF VECORS
i).Zero Vector(or null vector) :

A vector whose initial and terminal points coincide, is called a zero vector (or null vector), and denoted as 𝟎.
The magnitude of zero vector is zero. It may be regarded as having any direction.
The vectors 𝑨𝑨, 𝑩𝑩, 𝑪𝑪 … 𝒆𝒕𝒄 represents the zero vector.
ii).Unit Vector :
A vector whose magnitude is unity (i.e., 1 unit) is called a unit vector.
The unit vector in the direction of a given vector 𝒂 is denoted by 𝒂.
iii).Coinitial Vectors:
Two or more vectors having the same initial point are called coinitial vectors
irrespective of their magnitude and direction.
Iv).Collinear Vectors :
Two or more vectors are said to be collinear if they are parallel to the same line, irrespective of their magnitudes and
directions.
v). Equal Vectors:

Two vectors 𝒂 and 𝒃 are said to be equal, if they have the same magnitude and direction regardless of the positions of their
initial points. And written as 𝒂 = 𝒃.
vi).Negative of a Vector:
A vector whose magnitude is the same as that of a given vector, but direction is opposite to that of it, is called negative of
the given vector.
For example, 𝑩𝑨 vector is negative of the vector 𝑨𝑩, and written as 𝑩𝑨=-𝑨𝑩
v).free vector: a vector whose initial point is chosen at any point is called free vector
Note : throghout this chapter we will be dealing with free vectors only i.e, the vectors may be subjected to parallel
displacement without changing its magnitude and direction
Examples : which of the vectors are: (i) Collinear (ii) Equal (iii) Coinitial
i).Collinear vectors :𝒂, 𝒄 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅
(ii) Equal vectors : 𝒂 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄
(iii) Coinitial vectors :𝒃, 𝒄 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅
Example 2: Identify the following vectors. (i) Coinitial (ii) Equal (iii) Collinear but not equal
i).coinitial vectors:𝒂 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅

ii).equal vectors :𝒃 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅
iii) Collinear vectors :, 𝒂 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄
Answer the following as true or false
i)𝒂 and -𝒂 are collinear.
(ii) Two collinear vectors are always equal in magnitude.
(iii) Two vectors having same magnitude are collinear.
(iv) Two collinear vectors having the same magnitude are equal.
Solution :
i)True
ii)False
iii)False
iv)False
Addition of Vectors
Triangle law of vector addition

Statement :
To add two vectors 𝒂 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃 , consider 𝒂 = 𝑨𝑩 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃 =𝑩𝑪 are such that terminal point of 𝒂 coincides with initial point of 𝒃.
Then 𝑨𝑪 is defined as the sum of 𝑨𝑩 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑩𝑪
i.e, 𝑨𝑩 + 𝑩𝑪 = 𝑨𝑪
In general, if we have two vectors 𝒂 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃 , then to add them, they are positioned so that the initial point of one coincides
with the terminal point of the other
Parallelogram law of vector addition
Statement :If we have two vectors 𝒂 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃 represented by the two adjacent sides of a parallelogram in magnitude and
direction ,then their sum 𝒂 + 𝒃 is represented in magnitude and direction by the diagonal of the parallelogram through their
common point. This is known as the parallelogram law of vector addition.
Properties of vector addition
Property 1: For any two vectors 𝒂 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃,
𝒂 + 𝒃=𝒃 + 𝒂 (commutative property)
Proof :
Consider the parallelogram ABCD as shown .
Let 𝑨𝑩 = 𝒂 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑩𝑪 = 𝒃
Then using the triangle law, from triangle ABC, we have
𝑨𝑪 = 𝑨𝑩 + 𝑩𝑪 = 𝒂 + 𝒃
Now, since the opposite sides of a parallelogram are equal and parallel,, we have,
𝑨𝑫 = 𝑩𝑪 = 𝒃 and 𝑫𝑪 = 𝑨𝑩 = 𝒂.
Again using triangle law, from triangle ADC, we have
𝑨𝑪 = 𝑨𝑫 + 𝑫𝑪 = 𝒃 + 𝒂
Hence 𝒂 + 𝒃=𝒃 + 𝒂
Property 2 : for any 3 vectors 𝒂 , 𝒃 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝒄,
𝒂 + 𝒃 + 𝒄 = (𝒂 + 𝒃) + 𝒄
Verification :
Consider three vectors 𝒂 , 𝒃 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝒄 are such that 𝒂=𝑷𝑸 , 𝒃=𝑸𝑹 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄=𝑹𝑺 𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒎
From the triangle PQR, 𝑷𝑸 +𝑸𝑹=𝑷𝑹

𝒂 + 𝒃=𝑷𝑹
From the triangle PRS, 𝑷𝑹+𝑹𝑺=𝑷𝑺
(𝒂 + 𝒃)+𝒄=𝑷𝑺 1
From the triangle QRS, 𝑸𝑹 +𝑹𝑺=𝑸𝑺
𝒃 + 𝒄=𝑸𝑺
From the triangle PQS, 𝑷𝑸 + 𝑸𝑺=𝑷𝑺
𝒂 + (𝒃+𝒄)=𝑷𝑺 2
Therefore 𝒂 + 𝒃 + 𝒄 = (𝒂 + 𝒃) + 𝒄
Note : for any vector 𝒂 , we have 𝒂+𝟎 = 𝟎 + 𝒂=𝒂
Multiplication of a vecor by a scalar
Let 𝒂 be a given vector and λ a scalar(real number ).
Then the multiplication of the vector 𝒂 by the scalar λ is denoted as λ𝒂.
The vector λ𝒂 has the direction same (or opposite) as that of vector 𝒂 𝐢𝐟 value of λ is positive (or negative).
Also, the magnitude of vector λ𝒂 is |λ| times the magnitude of the vector 𝒂, i.e., |λ𝒂| = |λ ||𝒂 |
Note1 :When λ = –1, then λ𝒂=-𝒂, which is a vector having magnitude equal to the magnitude of 𝒂 and direction opposite to
that of the direction of 𝒂. The vector -𝒂 is called the negative (or additive inverse) of 𝒂 and we always have
𝒂+(-𝒂)=(-𝒂)+𝒂=𝟎
𝟏 𝟏
Note 2 : When λ=ǀ𝒂ǀ, 𝒂 ≠ 𝟎 .Then λ𝒂=ǀ𝒂ǀ. 𝒂
𝟏
And |λ𝒂|= .|𝒂|=1
ǀ𝐚ǀ
Therefore λ𝒂 is a unit vector .
𝟏
Also since λ=ǀ𝒂ǀ is a positive number , λ𝒂 is in the direction of 𝒂.
Therefore λ𝒂 is a unit vector in the direction of 𝒂
𝟏
Therefore 𝒂=λ𝒂 = ǀ𝒂ǀ. 𝒂
Note 3 : 𝒂 and λ𝒂 are collinear
Note 4 : 𝒂 =|𝒂 |𝒂
Components of a vector
Let us take the points A(1, 0, 0), B(0, 1, 0) and C(0, 0, 1) on the x-axis, y-axis and z-axis, respectively.
Then ǀ𝑶𝑨ǀ=1 , ǀ𝑶𝑩ǀ=1 and ǀ𝑶𝑪ǀ =1 ( using distance formula)
Therfore 𝑶𝑨, 𝑶𝑩 and 𝑶𝑪 each having magnitude 1, are called unit vectors along the axes X, Y and Z, respectively, and
denoted by 𝒊, 𝒋 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒌, respectively
Now, consider the position vector 𝑶𝑷 of a point P(x, y, z). Let 𝑷𝟏 be the foot of the perpendicular from P on the plane XOY.
We, thus, see that 𝐏𝟏 P is parallel to z-axis.
we have 𝐏𝟏 P=z𝒌 , 𝑸𝐏𝟏 = 𝑶𝑺 = 𝐲𝒋 and 𝑶𝑸 = x𝒊
𝑶𝑷𝟏 = 𝑶𝑸 + 𝑸𝑷𝟏 =x𝒊+𝐲𝒋 (triangle law )
Therefore 𝑶𝑷=𝑶𝑷𝟏 + 𝑷𝟏 𝑷 =x𝒊+𝐲𝒋+z𝒌 ,
this is called component form of a vector 𝒓
x,y and z are called scalar (rectangular) components of 𝒓
x𝒊, 𝐲𝒋 𝐚𝐧𝐝 z𝒌 are called vector component of 𝒓
And orǀ𝒓ǀ = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 + 𝒛𝟐

Vector Algebra

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VECTOR ALGEBRA

Some Basic Concepts:

i).Zero Vector(or null vector) :

v). Equal Vectors:

i).coinitial vectors:𝒂 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅

Triangle law of vector addition

From the triangle PQR, 𝑷𝑸 +𝑸𝑹=𝑷𝑹

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