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Vector Algebra Facts Sheet

1. A vector space is a set of vectors that can be added and scaled. Any vector has an opposite and there exists a zero vector. 2. The scalar product of two vectors produces a scalar quantity, while the vector product of two vectors produces another vector perpendicular to both. 3. The triple product of three vectors can be defined using scalar and vector products and represents the volume of the parallelepiped spanned by the vectors.

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Светлана Дашкевич Лисовская
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371 views3 pages

Vector Algebra Facts Sheet

1. A vector space is a set of vectors that can be added and scaled. Any vector has an opposite and there exists a zero vector. 2. The scalar product of two vectors produces a scalar quantity, while the vector product of two vectors produces another vector perpendicular to both. 3. The triple product of three vectors can be defined using scalar and vector products and represents the volume of the parallelepiped spanned by the vectors.

Uploaded by

Светлана Дашкевич Лисовская
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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∀ a ∈V : ∃−a ∈V :

Vector algebra facts sheet. a−a =−a a=0


2. Vector addition is commutative:
Notation
a b=ba ∀ a , b∈V 
1. Vectors will be denoted by bold 
letters: 3. Vectors from the vector space 
multiplied by numbers:
a, b, v
∀ ∈ℂ : ∀ v ∈V : ∃v :  v ∈V
When hand­written, vectors will 
be denoted with small arrows  4. The following vector algebra 
above the letters: rules hold ( and  are 
,  numbers):
a
, b c
a b =a  b
2. Normal typeface letter will 
indicate a length of a vector: a =a a
a =∣a∣ 0⋅a =0 (zero vector)
3. An angle between two vectors:
 Basis
= a b
1. Three non­coplanar vectors form 
a basis:
a
x =e 1, y=e
 2, z=e 3 :

 b ∀ i ≠ j : ¬e i∥e j 
2. Any vector can be expressed via 
4. A vector with a “hat” is a unit­ the base vectors:
length vector pointing in the  v =v x x v y yv
 zz

direction of the original vector:
3. Vector can be defined through 
v∥v
 , ∣v ∣≡1, v⋅v 0 its components:
v=v x , v y , v z 
â a
5. Vector length can be expressed 
1 through its components (in an 
a orthonormal basis):

 2 2
v=∣v∣= v x v y v z
2

Vector space Scalar and vector products


1. A set of all vectors forms a  1. Scalar product is a scalar 
quantity:
vector space V; vectors can be 
added, for any vector there  
a⋅b=a b=a b cos a b
exists an opposite vector, and 
there exists a zero vector: 2. Projection of vector a into 
direction of vector b can be 
∀ a ,b ∈V : c =a b ∈V expressed via the scalar 
∃ 0∈V : ∀ a0=0a =V product:
ab   4. Vector product is 
p= =a b=a cos a b anticommutative:
b
[a ×b ]=−[b×a ]
a 5. Vector product gives an area of 
parallelepiped spanned by 
vectors a and b:
p
b A=h b=a b sin a b

h =a sin a b=a sin 
3. Scalar product is commutative:
a b=b a
a
4. Other scalar product properties:
h
a b c=a cb c  A
a⋅b = a⋅c 
2 b
a⋅a =a
5. Scalar product in orthonormal 
coordinates: Triple product
a b=a x b x a y b y a z b z 1. Triple product of three vectors is 
a defined via scalar and vector 
Vector product products:

1. Vector product is a vector  a , b ,c ≡a⋅[c ×d]


perpendicular to both  2. Triple product can be “rotated”:
multiplicands:
a , b ,c =b , c , a =c , a ,b 

∣[a×b ]∣=a b sin a b
3. Triple product changes its sign 
[a ×b ]⊥a , [a ×b ]⊥ b
when any two multiplicands are 
transposed:
a , b ,c =−b , a , c =−a ,c , b 
[ a×b ] b 4. Triple product gives a volume of 
a prism spanned by the three 
vectors:
a V =a ,b , c 
2. Vector product can be calculated 
from the coordinates using the 
following determinant: c V
b

∣ ∣
x y z
[a ×b ]= a x a y a z
a
b x by b z

3. Vectors a, b, and c form a right­
handed system.
Double vector product
1. The following formula holds:
[a×[b×c ]]=b a⋅c −c a⋅b 

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