Vector Algebra
Vector Algebra
Vector Algebra
Vector Algebra
Learning & Revision for the Day
u Vectors and Scalars u Angular Bisectors u Scalar Triple Product
u Types of Vectors u Position Vector (PV) u Vector Triple Product
u Addition, Subtraction u Components of a Vector in 2D and 3D u Linear Combination,
and Scalar Multiplication u Scalar (Dot) Product Linear Independence
of Vectors and Dependence
u Vector (Cross) Product
A a B
(Initial point) (Terminal point)
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Magnitude (or length) of a vector a is denoted by|a| and it is always a non-negative scalar.
Types of Vectors
(i) A vector whose initial and terminal points coincide is called the zero or null vector and it
is denoted as 0.
(ii) A vector whose magnitude is 1, is called a unit vector. The unit vector in the direction of a
a
is given by and is denoted by a$ . Unit vectors parallel to X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis are
a
denoted by i, j and k, respectively.
(iii) Vectors are said to be like when they have the same sense of direction and unlike when
they have opposite directions.
(iv) Two vectors a and b are said to be equal, written as a = b, if they have same length and
same direction.
(v) Vectors which are parallel to the same line are called collinear vectors or parallel vector,
otherwise they are called non-collinear vector. If a and b are two collinear vectors, then
a = λb for same λ ∈ R.
(vi) Vectors having the same initial point are called coinitial vectors.
(vii) Vectors having the same terminal point are called a 1 , a 2 , a 3 , ... in consecutive order, then their sum is
coterminous vectors. represented by the nth side, but in opposite direction
(viii) A system of vectors is said to be coplanar, if they are (as shown in the adjoining figure).
→ → → →
parallel to the same plane or lie in the same plane (iv) If a and b are two vectors, then the subtraction of b from a
otherwise they are called non-coplanar vectors. → →
is defined as the vector sum of a and − b and it is denoted
(ix) The vector which has the same magnitude as that of a → → → → → →
b NOTE When the sides of a triangle are taken in order, it leads to zero
a+
b resultant, e.g., In ABC, AB + BC + CA = 0.
O a Angular Bisectors
(ii) Parallelogram law If the vectors lie along two Let a and b are unit vectors, the internal bisector of angle
adjacent sides of a parallelogram (as shown in the between a and b is along a + b and external bisector of angle is
adjoining figure), then diagonal of the parallelogram along a − b.
through the common vertex represents their sum. b
a+b
b b
+ a
a
O a
a–b
(iii) Polygon law If (n − 1) sides of a polygon represents
vector If a and b are not unit vectors, then above angle bisectors are
a b a b
+
a3 a3 along + and − , respectively.
a2 |a | | b| |a | | b|
+
a1 a2 These bisectors are perpendicular to each other.
O a1
where Ax , A y and Az are the magnitudes of A x , A y and A z ,
Position Vector (PV) respectively.
Every point P ( x, y, z) in space is associated with a vector Here Ax , A y and Az are called scalar components of A and Ax ,
whose initial point is O(origin) and terminal point is P. This
A y and Az are called Vector components of A.
vector is called position vector and it is given by
If two vectors a = (a1 , a2 , a3 ) and b = (b1 , b2 , b3 ) are equal, then
OP (or r) = x i + y j + z k.
their resolved parts will also equal i.e. a1 = b1 , a2 = b2 and
Using distance formula, the magnitude of OP (or r) is a3 = b3 . If a = a1 i + a2 j + a3 k and b = b1 i + b2 j + b3 k, then
OP = x2 + y2 + z2
(i) a + b = (a1 + b1 )i + (a2 + b2 )j + (a3 + b3 )k
●
If A (a1 , a2 , a3 ) and B (b1 , b2 , b3 ) have position vectors then (ii) a − b = (a1 − b1 )i + (a2 − b2 )j + (a3 − b3 )k
a and b respectively, then AB = b − a
(iii) λa = λa1 i + λa2 j + λa3 k
and AB = | b − a | = (a1 − b1 )2 + (a2 − b2 )2 + (a3 − b3 )2
●
If a and b are the PV of A and B respectively and r be the Scalar (Dot) Product
PV of the point P which divides the join of A and B in the
mb ± na The scalar product of two vectors a and b is given by
ratio m : n, then r = . a ⋅ b = |a || b|cos θ, 0 ≤ θ ≤ π .
m±n
Properties of Scalar Product is listed below:
Here, ‘+’ sign takes for internal division and ‘−’ sign takes
for external division. 1. a ⋅ b = b ⋅ a [commutative law]
●
If a, b and c be the PV of three vertices of ∆ABC and r be the 2. a ⋅ b = 0, if a ⊥ b
a+b+c 3. a ⋅ a =|a |2
PV of the centroid of ∆ABC, then r =
3 4. i ⋅ i = j ⋅ j = k ⋅ k = 1
and i ⋅ j = i ⋅ k = j ⋅ k = j ⋅ i = k ⋅ i = k ⋅ j = 0
Components of a Vector 5. If a = a1 i + a2 j + a3 k and b = b1 i + b2 j + b3 k,
in 2D and 3D then a ⋅ b = a1 b1 + a2 b2 + a3 b3
6. a ⋅ (α ⋅ b) = α (a ⋅ b)
The process of splitting a vector is called resolution of a
vector. The parts of the vector obtained after splitting the 7. a ⋅ (b ± c) = a ⋅ b ± a ⋅ c [distributive law]
vectors are known as the components of the vector. 8. For any two vectors a and b, we have
(i) | a + b |2 = | a |2 + | b |2 + 2 (a ⋅ b)
Let A x is the resolved part of A along X-axis i.e. the projection
(ii) | a − b |2 = | a |2 + | b |2 − 2 (a ⋅ b)
of A on X-axis. Similarly, A y is the resolved part of A along
(iii) (a + b) ⋅ (a − b) = | a |2 − | b |2
Y-axis, i.e. the projection of A on Y-axis.
(iv) a ⋅ b < 0 iff a and b are inclined at an obtuse angle.
Then, by the parallelogram law, (v) a ⋅ b > 0 iff a and b are inclined at an acute angle.
Y 9. If a = a1 i + a2 j + a3 k and b = b1 i + b2 j + b3 k are inclined
at an angle θ, then
P
M a1b1 + a2b2 + a3b3
cos θ =
Ay A a12 + a22 + a32 b12 + b22 + b32
a
j Ay
O b
X M
k O Ax i
Az a⋅b
OM =
Z b
12. Components of a along and perpendicular to b are Properties of Scalar Triple Product are listed below:
a⋅b $ a ⋅ b $ 1. [a b c] = [b c a] = [c a b]
OM = ⋅ b and MA = a − ⋅ b, respectively.
b b 2. [a b c] = − [b a c] = − [c b a] = − [a c b]
13. Work done If a particle acted on by a force F has 3. If λ is a scalar, then [λa b c] = λ [a b c]
displacement d, then work done = F ⋅ d 4. [a b c1 + c2 ] = [a b c1 ] + [a b c2 ]
5. (a × b) ⋅ c = a ⋅ (b × c)
Vector (Cross) Product 6. The scalar triple product of three vectors is zero, if
The vector product of two vectors a and b is given by any two of them are equal or parallel or collinear.
a × b = |a || b|sin θ ⋅ n$ , where n$ is a unit vector perpendicular 7. If a, b and c are coplanar, then [a b c] = 0
to a and b such that a, b and n$ form a right handed system and 8. If [a b c] = 0, then any two of the vectors are parallel or
θ (0 ≤ θ ≤ π ) is the angle between a and b. a, b and c are coplanar or c = α a + βb.
Properties of vector product are listed below:
9. Four points with position vectors a, b, c and d will be
1. a × b = − (b × a) coplanar, if [b − a, c – a, d – a] = 0.
2. (a × b)2 = |a|2 | b|2 − (a ⋅ b)2 10. Volume of parallelopiped, whose coterminous edges
3. ma × b = m (a × b) = a × mb are a, b and c is [a b c] .
4. a × (b ± c) = a × b ± a × c 11. If a = a1 i + a2 j + a3 k, b = b1 i + b2 j + b3 k
and (b ± c) × a = b × a ± c × a a1 a2 a3
5. a × b = 0 ⇔ a || b, where, a and b are non-zero vectors.
and c = c1 i + c2 j + c3 k, then [a b c] = b1 b2 b3
6. If a = a1 i + a2 j + a3 k and b = b1 i + b2 j + b3 k
c1 c2 c3
i j k
a⋅ a a⋅ b a⋅ c
then, a × b = a1 a2 a3
12. [a × b b × c c × a] = [a b c]2 = b ⋅ a b⋅ b b⋅ c
b1 b2 b3
c⋅ a c⋅ b c⋅ c
7. The vector perpendicular to both a and b is given by
a⋅ u a⋅ v a⋅ w
a × b.
13. [a b c] ⋅ [u v w] = b ⋅ u b ⋅ v b ⋅ w
8. The unit vectors perpendicular to the plane of a and b
a×b c⋅ u c⋅ v c⋅ w
are ± and a vector of magnitude λ perpendicular
|a × b| 14. If a = a1 l+a2 m+a3 n; b = b1 l+b2 m+b3 n and
λ (a × b) a1 a2 a3
to the plane of (a and b or b and a ) is .
|a × b| c = c1 l+c2 m+c3 n, then [a b c] = b1 b2 b3 [l, m, n]
9. If i, j and k are three unit vectors along three mutually c1 c2 c3
perpendicular lines, then
i × i = j × j = k × k = 0, i × j = k, j × i = − k, j × k = i, Tetrahedron and Its Volume
k × j = − i, k × i = j, i × k = − j
A tetrahedron is a three dimensional figure formed by four
10. (i) The area of parallelogram with adjacent sides a and
triangles, as shown in figure
b is a × b .
(ii) The area of quadrilateral with diagonals d 1 and d 2 A (a)
1
is d 1 × d 2 .
2
(iii) The area of triangle with adjacent sides a and b, is (a)
1
a ×b . O
2
(iv) If a, b, c are position vectors of a ∆ABC, then the
1 (b) (c)
area = (a × b) + (b × c) + (c × a) . (b) B C (c)
2
11. Three points with position vectors a, b, c are collinear Volume of tetrahedron
if a × b + b × c + c × a = 0 1
OABC = [a b c]
6
Scalar Triple Product If a, b, c and d are position vectors of vertices A, B, C and D of a
If a, b, c are three vectors, then their scalar triple product is tetrahedron ABCD, then its volume
defined as the dot product of a and b × c. It is denoted by 1
= [a − d b − d c − d ].
[a b c]. Thus, [a b c] = a ⋅ (b × c). 6
If two non-zero vectors a and b are linearly dependent,
Vector Triple Product
●
then it means
If a, b and c are three vector quantities, then the vectors (i) there are non-zero scalar α and β such that α a + βb = 0 .
a × (b × c) and (a × b) × c represents the vector triple product
(ii) a and b are parallel.
and is given by
(iii) a and b are collinear.
a × (b × c) = (a ⋅ c) b − (a ⋅ b) c
(iv) a × b = 0
(a × b) × c = (a ⋅ c) b − (b ⋅ c) a
Otherwise, a and b are linearly independent.
Properties of Vector Triple Product are listed below:
●
If three non-zero vectors a, b and c are linearly dependent,
1. (a × b) × c = a × (b × c) if some or all a, b and c are zero
vectors or a and c are collinear. then it means
2. a × b × a = (a × b) × a = a × (b × a) (i) there are non-zero scalars α , β and γ such that
αa + βb + γc =0
3. Vector a × (b × c) is perpendicular to a and lies in the
plane of b and c. (ii) a, b and c are parallel to same plane.
a ⋅c a ⋅d (iii) a, b and c are coplanar.
4. (a × b) ⋅ (c × d ) = .
b ⋅c b ⋅d (iv) a = α 1 b + α 2c etc.
(v) [a b c] = 0
Linear Combination, Linear Otherwise a, b and c are linearly independent.
c1 c2 c3 2 2 − 2 2 −2 3
(a) (b) (c) (d)
3 3 3 3
(a) 0 (b) 1 (c) | a | 2 | b | 2 (d) | a × b | 2
19. Let ABCD be a parallelogram such that AB = q , AD = p,
14 If a is a unit vector and projection of x along a is 2 and and ∠BAD be an acute angle. If r is the vector that
a × r + b = r, then is equal to coincides with the altitude directed from the vertex B to
1 1
(a) [a − b + a × b] (b) [2a + b + a × b] the side AD, then r is given by
2 2
3(p ⋅ q) q⋅p
(c) a + a × b (d) a − a × b (a) r = 3 q − p (b) r = − q + p
(p ⋅ q) p⋅p
15 Let a, b and c be unit vectors such that a + b + c = 0.
p⋅q 3(p ⋅ q)
Which one of the following is correct? (c) r = q − p (d) r = −3 q + p
p⋅q (p ⋅ q)
(a) a ×b = b × c = c × a = 0
(b) a ×b=b×c =c ×a ≠ 0 20 Statement I If u and v are unit vectors inclined at an
(c) a ×b=b×c =a ×c = 0 angle α and x is a unit vector bisecting the angle
(d) a × b, b × c and c × a are mutually perpendicular u+ v
between them, then x = .
16 Let G 1, G 2 and G 3 be the centroids of the triangular α
2 cos
faces OBC, OCA and OAB of a tetrahedron OABC. If V1 2
denote the volume of the tetrahedron OABC and V2 that Statement II If ∆ABC is an isosceles triangle with
of the parallelopiped with OG 1, OG 2 and OG 3 as three AB = AC = 1, then vector representing bisector of angle A
concurrent edges, then AB + AC
is given by AD = .
(a) 4V1 = 9V2 (b) 9V1 = 4V2 2
(c) 3V1 = 2V2 (d) 3V2 = 2V1 (a) Statement I is true, Statement II is true; Statement II is a
correct explanation for Statement I
17 ABC is triangle, right angled at A. The resultant of the (b) Statement I is true, Statement II is true; Statement II is
forces acting along AB and AC with magnitudes not a correct explanation for Statement I
1 1 (c) Statement I is true; Statement II is false
and respectively is the force along AD, where D
AB AC (d) Statement I is false; Statement II is true
is the foot of the perpendicular from A onto BC. The
magnitude of the resultant is
ANSWERS
SESSION 1 1 (b) 2 (a) 3 (a) 4 (d) 5 (c) 6 (c) 7 (b) 8 (a) 9 (a) 10 (b)
11 (b) 12 (d) 13 (a) 14 (c) 15 (a) 16 (a) 17 (a) 18 (c) 19 (a) 20 (b)
21 (c) 22 (d) 23 (c) 24 (a) 25 (d) 26 (a) 27 (a) 28 (c) 29 (d) 30 (c)
31 (b) 32 (c) 33 (a) 34 (d) 35 (a) 36 (d) 37 (c) 38 (d) 39 (b) 40 (a)
41 (c) 42 (d) 43 (d) 44 (a) 45 (a) 46 (c) 47 (c) 48 (a) 49 (c) 50 (b)
SESSION 2 1 (b) 2 (a) 3 (b) 4 (b) 5 (a) 6 (c) 7 (b) 8 (c) 9 (d) 10 (c)
11 (a) 12 (c) 13 (d) 14 (b) 15 (b) 16 (a) 17 (c) 18 (a) 19 (b) 20 (a)
DAY THIRTY ONE VECTOR ALGEBRA 345