VECTOR GEOMETRY

Triangle law of vector addition:

In a triangle, the sum of vectors represented by two sides in same order is equal to

the vector represented by remaining side taken in opposite order.

In a triangle ABC,⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

Parallelogram law of vector addition:

The sum of two co-initial vectors represented by the adjacent sides of a

parallelogram is equal to the vector represented by co-initial diagonal

If A and B are any given points in rectangular axes,

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ And ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ are position vectors of pint A and B respectively then

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

Mid point formula

If and ⃗ are position vectors of two points A and B respectively and M is the

middle point of the line segment AB, then the position vector of M is ⃗
A
Let AB be a line segment and O be origin.

M
Then position vector of A = ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ =

Position vector of B = ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = ⃗ B

If M be the mid point of line segment AB then

O

(i) AM = MB M is mid point

Or, ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ Triangle law of vector addition

or, ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

Or, ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ A

Or, ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ M

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
Or, ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ B

⃗ ⃗
Or, , ⃗⃗ O
Section formula for internal division

If and ⃗ are position vectors of two points A and B respectively and P divides the

⃗ ⃗
line segment AB in the ratio m:n, then the position vector of P is

Let AB be a line segment and O be the origin.

A

Then position vector of A = ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ =

P
Position vector of B = ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = ⃗
B

Position vector of P = ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ =

O

Let P be any points on AB such that

AP : PB = m : n

P divides AB in the ratio m:n

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

(⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ) (⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ) Triangle law of vector addition

A
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

P
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

B
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
O
 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

Section formula for external division

If and ⃗ are position vectors of two points A and B respectively and P divides the

⃗ ⃗
line segment AB externally in the ratio m:n, then the position vector of P is

Let AB be a line segment and O be the origin. P

Then position vector of A = ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ =

B

Position vector of B = ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = ⃗

A

Position vector of P = ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ =

O

Let M be any points on AB produced such that

AP : BP = m : n

P divides AB externally in the ratio m:n

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
 (⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ) (⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ) Triangle law of vector addition

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ Taking -ve sign common

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

⃗
If ⃗ , ⃗ and ⃗ are position vectors of the vertices of a ABC. Prove by vector

⃗ ⃗ ⃗
method that the position vector of a centroid G of a triangle is ⃗⃗
A
Point of intersection of median is known as centroid of a triangle
Centroid divides the median in the ratio 2:1.

Let O be the origin and G be centroid of triangle ABC. G

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
(i) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ Mid point formula
B C
D
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
(ii) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ Section formula
O
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
( ) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
(iii) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = From statement (i) and (ii)

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

⃗ ⃗ ⃗
⃗⃗
Prove by vector method that a line segment joining the mid points of any two sides
A
of a triangle is parallel to the third side and half of it.

M
Let ABC be a triangle and M and N be mid points of C

Side AB and AC respectively. B

(i) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ M is mid point of BA

(ii) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ N is mid point of AC

(iii) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ Adding statement (i) and (ii)

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ (⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ) Triangle law of vector addition

(iv) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ Triangle law of vector addition

(v) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ From statement (iv) and (v)

Hence MN   BC and MN =
Prove that the line joining the middle points of the sides of a

quadrilateral taken in order is a parallelogram.

Let ABCD be a quadrilateral and P, Q, R, S D R

C
be the mid points of sides AB, BC, CD and DA
S
respectively. PQRS is a quadrilateral formed Q

by joining the mid-points of sides. A

B
Let O be the origin of vector then P

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
(i) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ Mid point theorem of vector geometry.

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

(ii) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ triangle law of vector addition

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

= - from statement (i)

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

=

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
= D R
C

(iii) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

S
Q
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
= -
A
B
P
 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
=

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
=

(iv) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

PQ = SR and PQ   SR

Similarly, SP = RQ and SP   RQ

Hence PQRS is a parallelogram.

Prove that the diagonals of a parallelogram bisect each other.

B
Let OABC be a parallelogram, AC and OB are C

diagonals of parallelogram OABC. N

M
Let O be the origin, M and N are mid points A

Of diagonal AC and OB respectively. O

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
(i) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ Mid point theorem

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

(ii) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ Parallelogram law of vector addition

(iii) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ From statement (i) and (ii)

(iv) M and N coincide Position vector of OM and ON are same.

Thus diagonals of a parallelogram bisect each other.

Prove that the diagonals of a rhombus bisect each other at right angles B
C

Let OABC be a rhombus, AC and OB are

diagonals of rhombus OABC. N

Let O be the origin, M and N are mid points M

A
Of diagonal AC and OB respectively.
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ O

|⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | |⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | |⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | |⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ |

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
(i) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ Mid point theorem

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

(ii) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ Parallelogram law of vector addition

(iii) M and N coincide Position vector of OM and ON are same.

B
C
Thus diagonals of a rhombus bisect each other.

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

(iv) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ Triangle law of vector addition N

M
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
= A

O
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
(v) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ from statement (i) and (iv)

|⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | |⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ |
All sides of rhombus are equal in length

Thus diagonals of a rhombus are perpendicular to each other.

Hence diagonals of a rhombus bisect each other at right angle.

 Prove by vector method that the median of an isosceles triangle is
C
perpendicular to the base.

Let ABC be an isosceles triangle

With AC = BC and CD is median

( AD = DC )
A D B
|⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | |⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | and ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
(i) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ Mid point theorem of vector geometry

(ii) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ Triangle law of of vector addition

= ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
(iii) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ( ) (⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ) From statement (i) and (ii)

= (⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ) (⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ) C

= (|⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | |⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | )

=0

(iv) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ from statement (iii)

A D B
Prove that angles at the circumference in a semi-circle is a right angle

C
Let OACB be a semi circle with centre at O.

Centre O is taken as origin, AB is diameter

and C be any point on circumference.

A O B

|⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | |⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | |⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

(i) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ Triangle law of vector addition

= (⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

(ii) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ Triangle law of vector addition

= ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

= ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ are equal vector

= ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

= (⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ )

(iii) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ (⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ) (⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ )

= - (⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ )

= - (|⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | |⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | )

=0

(iv) ACB = 900

 Prove that the middle point of hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle is

equidistance from its vertices. C

P
Let BAC be a right angled triangle

Whose right angle is at A

A B
Let P be mid point of hypotenuse.

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ and ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

(i) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ Triangle law of vector addition

(ii) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ Triangle law of vector addition

(iii) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ A is a right angle

(⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ) (⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ )=0 C

(⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ) (⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ )=0

P
(⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ) (⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ )=0

|⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | |⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | A B

|⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | |⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ |

(iv) |⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | |⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | P is mid point of BC

(v) |⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | |⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | |⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | From statement (iii) and (iv)

(vi) AP = PB = CP
Prove by vector method that diagonals of a rectangle are equal.

Let ABCD be a rectangle, AC and BD A D

are diagonals.

Each angle of rectangle is 900 and

opposite sides are equal and parallel

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ , ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ , A = B = 900

B C

(i) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ triangle law of vector addition

(⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ) (⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ) Squaring both sides

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

ABC = 900

(ii) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ triangle law of vector addition

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ A D

= ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

(⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ) (⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ )

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
B C

(iii) from (i) and (ii)