hapie 13

Vectors
This section will show
you how to:

Use vectors in any form, eg AB.p, oi +

bj
use position vectors and unit
find the magnitude vectors
of a vector, add and subtract vectors and
Compose and resolve velocities. multiply vectors by scalars
 RECAP

You should already be familiar with the following vector work:

A
Quantitics that have both magnitude and direction are called vectors,
Quantities that have only maguitude are called scalars.
AB means the displacement from the point A to the point B.

For the diagram, AB =

The magnitude' ofthe vector Aß means the 'length' of the vector AB and is denoted by l AB
AB is called the modulus of the vector AB.
Using Pythagoras for the diagram, IAB|= V4 + (-3* = 5.
Two vectors are said to be equal if they are the
and are in the same direction.
same length

The vector -a is the same length as the vector a but is in the opposite direction.

Addition and subtraction of vectors

The vector a + b means the vector a followed by the vector b.
The vector a - b means the vector a followed by the vector -b.

The resultant vector is often shown with a double arrow.

It is drawn from the starting point to the
finishing point.
Forexample,if a =|aand b= then a + b and a - b can be shown on a vector diagram as:

Finish

Finish
a +b a
a -b
Start Start

a+b and a- b can also befound as follows:

--)-G:)-0) )--)-()
Multiplication by a scalar

The vector a + a can be written as 2a.

The vectors a and 2a are examples of parallel vectors.

Two vectors are parallel if one vector can be writen as a muliple of the other vector.
For example:

are parallel and in thesame direction because

2 and| are parallelandin oppositedirectionsbecause1

Collinear points
AB is MC
f(This then the points A, B and Care collinear.
because the lines AB and ACmust be parallel and the point A lies on both lines.)
 Chapter 13: Vectors

13.1 Further vector

notation
The vector AB in the
diagram can be wriuen in
component form as
AB can also be written as 4i +3j, wherc:
i is a vecior of
length 1 unit in the
positive a-direction
and j is a vector of
length 1 unit in thc positivc y-direction.
Note:
A vector of
length l unit is called a unit vector.

wORKED EXAMPLE 1
a Write PQ in the P-
form ai + bj
b Find PQ
.

Answers
a
PQ =4i -2
b
Using Pythagoras, PQ =
(4}* +(-2 =
20 =
2/5.
You could be
asked to find the unit
The vector in the
method is outline in the
direction of a
given vect1or.
following example.
wORKED EXAMPLE 2
EF = 4i+3
Find the unit
vector in the
direction of the vector
EF.
Answers
First find the
length of the vector
FF:
EF= 4 +3?
EF=5 ising P'ythagoras
Hence the unit
vector in the
direction of EF is:
(4i+ 3j)
 wORKED EXAMPLE 3

a =
-2i + 3j, b= 4i-j and c=
-22i + 18j.
Find A and u such that Aa + ub = c.

Answers
Aa + ub =c
(-2i +3j) + p(4i - j) = -22i +18

Equating the i's gives

- 2 7 +4u = -22
-A+2u = -l1

Equating the j's gives

3A-u = 18
6-24= 36
Adding equations ( and 2) gives
51=25
=5
Substituting for 2 in equation (D gives
-5+24 = -11

24= -6
-3
So 2 = 5, u = -3.

Exercise 13.1
1 Write each vector in the form ai + bj.

a AB b AC AD
d AE e BE f DE C
g EA h DB i DC B

2 Find the magnitude of each of these vectors.

c 5i-12j d -8i-6j
a -2i b 4i +3j
f E 4i+4 h 5i-10j
e 7i+24j 15i-8j
of 20 units and is parallel to the
3 The vector AB has a magnitude
vector 4i + 3j.
Find AB
units and is parallel to the
4 The vector PQ has a magnitude of 39
vector 12i - 5j.

Find P.
of these vectors.
Find the unit vector in the direction of each
5
d 8i 15j e 3i+3j
a 6i+8j b5i+12j c4i-3j
and r = 10i
6 p 8i - 6j, q =-2i +3j
Find 1
a 2q b 2p + P-Sr d-p-
 Chapter 13: Vectors

= 3i -3j and r = 7i+ j

7 P= 9i+12j. q
Find
a p+q bptq+r|
8 p 7i-2j and q = i+ 4j.

Ap +q =36i 13j.
-

Find A and u such that

9 a 5i-6j, b = -i+2j and c=-13i+18j.
Find A and u such that Aa + ub = c.

13.2 Position vectors

The position vector of a point P relative to an origin,
0, means the displacement of the point Pfrom O.

3 4X
For this diagram, the position vector of Pis
OP- ) or OP 3i+2j

Now consider two

points A and B with
position vectors a and b.

AB means the
position vector of B relative to A.
AB =
A0+ OB
= -0A +OB

Hence:

AB OB -OA
or AB b-a
 Mathematics
Cambridge IGCSE and 0 Level Additional

wORKED EXAMPLE4

vector of
the position vector of Pis i+5j and the position
Relative toan origin 0,
Qis 10i-3j.
a Find PO.
The point Rlies on PQsuch that PR
b Find the position vector of R

Answers
a PO = O0 - OP 00 10ij and 0 ii
= (10i 3j) - (4i+5)) collect is and j's

PQ = 6 i - 8
P
PR F
(6i-8)
= 1.5i-2

OR =OP+PR
= (4i +5j)+(1.5i-2j)

OR = 5.51+ 3

20
WORKED EXAMPLE 5
the position vectors of points'A,
Band Care -2i+5j, 10i -j
Relative to an origin 0, the line AB, find the value of .
Given that Clies on
and 1(2i + j) respectively.

Answers
OR-10i- j and 01 2 i
OB-OA
AB
= (10i-j) - (-2i +5j) olleet is adjs

= 12i-6
the line AB, then AC =
k AB.
If Clies on

AC = OC - OA (o A2i j)and O i 2 5
olleet i's and js
= 2(2i+j) - (-2i + 5j)

= (2À+ 2)i- (5-)j

AB = (12i-6))
= 12ki -6kj
Hence, (22+2 i-(5-2)j 12ki - 6kj =

2+2 12k
Equating the i'sgives: mulply oth stles h 2
5-7 = 6k
Equating the j's gives:
10-22 =12k

and equation2 gives

Using equation
2+2 10-22
41 = 8

=2
 Chapter 13: Vectors

Exercise 13.2
1 Find AB, in the
form ai + bj, for each of the following
a A4,7) and B(3,4) b A(0, 6) and
B(2, -4)
cA (3,-3) and B(6, -2) d A(7,0) and B(-5, 3)
e
A-4,-2) and B(-3, 5) fA(5,-6) and B(-1, -7).
2 a Ois
the origin, Pis the point (1, 5) and PQ | =
Find
0Q
b Ois the
origin, Eis the point (-3, 4) and EF
Find the
position vector of | =

cOis the origin, Mis the point (4,-2) and NM-

Find the
position vector of N.
3 The vector OA has
vector -3i +4. magnitnude of 25 units and is parallel
a
to the
The vector OB has
vector 12i +
a
magnitudc of 26 units and is parallel to the
5j.
Find:
a
OA b OB
4 Relative to an
AB dAB
origin 0, theposition vector of A is
position vector of B is 9i +5j. -7i -

7j and the
The point Clies on AB such that AC
a Find AB.
=
3CB.
b Find the
unit vector in the
c Find the
direction of AB.
position vector of C.
5 Relative to an
origin 0, the position vector
vector of
Qis 8i +20j. of Pis 2i-4j and the
a Find PQ position
b Find PQ
Find the unit vector
in the direction
d Find the of PQ.
position vector of M, the
6 Relative to an midpoint of PO.
vector
origin 0, the
position vector of A is
of Bis i+2j. 4i -

2j and the
The unit vector in
the
positio0n
direction of AB is 0.3i
7 +0.4j. Find the value of 2.
Relative to an
origin 0, the
position vector of A is |-10
position vectors of Bis 10 and the
10
a Find AB. -11
The points A, Band
Clie on a
b Find the suraight line such that AC
position vector of the point C. =
2AB.
 Mathematics

Cambridge
1GCSE ando Level Additional

21 and the
vector of A is -20
8 Relative to a n origin O, the position

position vectors of Bis

a Find:
ii OB ii AB
ilOA CB.
such that AC
=

Band Clie on a straight line

The points A,
vector of the point C.
b Find the position
2j and the position
of A is 3i
-

vector
9 Relative to a n origin 0, the position
vector of B is 15i + 7j.
a Find AB.
AC AB.
AB such that =

The point Clies on

of C.
b Find the position vector
vector of A is 6i + 6j and the position
10 Relative to an origin 0, the position
vector o f B is 12i - 2j.

a Find AB.
The point Clies on AB such that AC =AB
b Find the position vector of C.
and the position
322 11 Relative to an origin 0, the position vector of
Ais
vector of B is |
position vector of C.
2AB. Find the
B and Care such that BC
=

The points A,
Band Care
12 Relative to an origin O, the position vectors of points A,
-5i 11j, 23i -4j and 2(i-3j) respectively.
the line AB, find the value of .
Given that C lies on

vectors of A, B and Care -2i + 7j,

13 Relative to an origin 0, the position
2i-j and 6i +2j respectively.
a Find the value of 2 when
AC =17.
b Find the value of 2 when
ABC is a straight line.

Find the value of 2

when ABC is a right-angle.
c
and the
14 Relative to an origin 0, the position vector of Ais -6i+4j
and OC = OA + 20B.
vector of B is 18i + 6j. Clies on the y-axis
position
Find OC.
vector of Pis 8i +3j and the positio
15 Relative to an origin 0, the position
Rlies on the x-axis and OR
= OP + 10Q.
vector of Qis -12i -

7j.
Find OR.