Note: Year 11 Specialist is just 2D vectors,

1.3 – VECTORS IN THE PLANE (Year 11 Specialist) in Year 12 Specialist you use 3D vectors.
ADDING VECTORS USING TRIGONOMETRY (more than 2 vectors must be added in ~𝑖 , 𝑗 form)
~
The true bearing is the angle you need to travel clockwise from North. Compare all angles to North (0° or also 360°), East (90°),
South (180°), West (270°) and if you keep going clockwise add the angle or if anticlockwise take the angle away.

W 10°
E

S
Note: Each bearing has three different ways to work it out
In this example we travel a total of 100° Clockwise from North In this example we travel a total of 305° Clockwise from North
We are Another 10° clockwise from East (90°) = 90° + 10° = 100° We are Another 35° clockwise from West = 270 + 35 = 305°
We are Also 80° anticlockwise from South = 180 – 80 = 100° We are Also 55° anticlockwise from North = 360 – 55 = 305°

TRIGONOMETRY IN NON-RIGHT-ANGLED TRIANGLES

When labelling non-right-angled triangles, Upper case letters are given to angles and lower-case letters for the sides opposite these
angles. Obviously small angles are opposite small sides and big sides are opposite big angles.

COSINE RULE – When dealing with all 3 sides and one angle 𝑎2 = 𝑏 2 + 𝑐 2 − 2𝑏𝑐 cos 𝐴

𝑎 𝑏 𝑐
SINE RULE – When dealing with all 2 sides and 2 matching angles = =
sin 𝐴 sin 𝐵 sin 𝐶
When solving for angles the unit circle tells us that there is an
Calculate the unknown in each of the following triangles acute and obtuse angle that give same sine value.
Give both answers (as the maths provides 2 answers) and if the
sum of the obtuse angle and the angle already given is more than
180, the obtuse angle can be discarded.
(But explain the acute is the only acceptable answer and why)

23
IF DEALING WITH ONLY 2 VECTORS: We can make a triangle and the resultant vector is the third side of the triangle.
IF DEALING WITH 3 OR MORE VECTORS: We must break all into 𝑖 and 𝑗 components and add them together (time consuming).
~ ~
When adding Vectors using Trigonometry, Draw the Vectors one after the other and usually you have the size of each vector and the
angle in-between so use the COSINE RULE to determine the resultant vector and the SINE rule for the direction it travels.
To find the Resultant Vector use the Cosine Rule
𝑥 2 = 102 + 62 − 2(10)(6) cos 60
𝑥 𝑥 2 = 100 + 36 − 60 = 76
6N 𝑥 = √76 = 2√19 𝑁 = 8.72 𝑁
30˚ 𝜃 6N Bearing (get angle for red arrow) use Sine rule
sin (𝜃) sin (60) 6sin (60)
10 N 60˚ = 𝜃 = sin−1 ( )
6 8.72 8.72
𝜃 = 36.59°, 143.41
Since 143.41 + 60 > 180, the only acceptable answer is θ = 36.59
If neither answer can be discarded, then use Cosine rule to solve for θ
Bearing = 120 – 37 = 083° (to nearest whole number)
Forces of 5.8 Newtons vertically upwards and 8.7 Newtons acting at 35˚ to the vertical act
5.8 N 8.7 N
on a body, see diagram. Determine the magnitude and direction of the single force that
could replace these two forces (i.e. determine the resultant of the two forces)
35˚

TO CHECK ANSWER
Not enough working out to get full marks

RELATIVE TO

B 𝑟 A = the vector of 𝐵 relative to 𝐴 = ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ + 𝑂𝐵

𝐴𝐵 = Travelling from 𝐴 to 𝐵 = 𝐴𝑂 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = 𝑂𝐵
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ − 𝑂𝐴
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = 𝑟B − 𝑟A (both relative to origin)
~ ~ ~
Ship A is travelling due North at 20 km/h, Ship B is travelling on a bearing of 070˚ at 27 km/h. What is the velocity of Ship B relative
to Ship A (i.e. What is the velocity of B as seen by an observer on A?)

SUBTRACT = ADD THE NEGATIVE VECTOR

If 𝑎 is a vector of magnitude 9 Newtons in direction 050˚ and 𝑏 is a vector of magnitude 12 Newtons in direction 130˚, find the
~ ~
magnitude and direction of:

a) 𝑎+𝑏 b) 𝑎−𝑏
~ ~ ~ ~

24
 FORMULA SHEET

OPERATIONS WITH VECTORS USING COMPONENT FORM

Vectors tell you the direction you travel to get from one point to another. For
example, to travel from B to D we need to travel 9 right and 6 down. This is
→ 9
written as 𝐵𝐷 = 9𝑖 − 6𝑗 = ( ) also known as D𝑟 B (D relative to B)
~ ~ −6 ~
Calculate the following
→ → → → →
𝑂𝐷 𝐵𝑂 𝐵𝐴 𝐶𝐵 𝐴𝐷

C𝑟 A D𝑟 C B relative to A
~ ~

→
Note: when compared to Origin: 𝑂𝐷 = D𝑟 O = 𝑟 D = Position Vector of D since relative to origin (O)
~ ~
OTHER WAY
If you were going from B to D, you could do this in many parts and add the vectors up, for example you could go from B to A, then A
→ → → → → → → →
to D, so 𝐵𝐷 = 𝐵𝐴 + 𝐴𝐷 or similarly 𝐵𝐷 = 𝐵𝐶 + 𝐶𝑂 + 𝑂𝐴 + 𝐴𝐷 . As you can see if the middle letters match up the final vector
→ →
equals the outside letters. Note: 𝐵𝐴 = − 𝐴𝐵 (check that this makes sense and use this to rewrite adding vectors)

What is the result of the following?

→ → → → → → → → → → → →
𝑂𝐹 + 𝐹𝐶 − 𝑂𝐻 + 𝑂𝐺 𝐶𝐷 + 𝐷𝐵 + 𝐵𝐴 + 𝐴𝐹 − 𝑂𝐶 + 𝑂𝐵 + 𝐵𝐴 − 𝐺𝐴

Sometimes if you change the order and convert the negative vectors you can see a shortcut
→ → → → → →
𝑂𝐵 − 𝑂𝐶 𝐴𝐵 − 𝐴𝐶 𝑂𝐷 − 𝑂𝐹

→ → → →
Therefore, using 𝑂𝐴 , 𝑂𝐵 , 𝑂𝐶 , 𝑂𝐷 write how you would work out
→ → → →
𝐷𝐶 𝐶𝐷 𝐷𝐴 𝐵𝐷 B𝑟 A
~

VECTOR ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION

If 𝑎 = 2𝑖 − 4𝑗 and 𝑏 = 3𝑖 + 5𝑗 calculate the following

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

3𝑎 𝑎+𝑏 2𝑏 − 3𝑎 𝑎 + 4𝑏
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

25
VISUALISING VECTORS
→ → →
PQRS is a quadrilateral where 𝑃𝑄 = 𝑎 and 𝑄𝑅 = 𝑏 and 𝑆𝑅 = 𝑐
~ ~ ~
Express the following in terms of 𝑎, 𝑏 and 𝑐
~ ~ ~
→ → →
𝑃𝑅 𝑆𝑄 𝑃𝑆

MAGNITUDE OF VECTORS
The size of a vector is calculated using Pythagoras and is given the symbol | |
If it’s a 2D vector, 𝑎 = 𝑥 𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 then |𝑎| = √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2
~ ~ ~ ~

2
Note: It can also be determined by using 𝑎 • 𝑎 = |𝑎| , So |𝑎| = √𝑎 • 𝑎 (See scalar product)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

If 𝑎 = 2𝑖 − 4𝑗 and 𝑏 = 3𝑖 + 5𝑗 and 𝑐 = 2𝑖 − 2√3𝑗 calculate |𝑎|, |𝑏| and |𝑐 |

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

ANGLE VECTOR MAKES WITH X-AXIS

𝑜𝑝𝑝 𝑦 𝑦
Think of a Right-Angled Triangle tan(𝜃) = =𝑥 so θ = tan−1 (𝑥 )
𝑎𝑑𝑗

Calculate the angle (in degrees) the vector 𝑎 = 2𝑖 − 2√3𝑗 makes with the positive direction of the x-axis
~ ~ ~

UNIT VECTORS
A unit vector goes in the same direction as the original vector and has a magnitude of 1 (so divide by original magnitude)
1
𝑎
It is given the symbol 𝑎
̂ and the formula is 𝑎̂ = 𝑎 𝑎̂ = ~
~ ~ |𝑎| ~ ~ |𝑎|
~ ~

If 𝑎 = 2𝑖 − 4𝑗 and 𝑏 = 3𝑖 + 5𝑗 and 𝑐 = 2𝑖 − 2√3𝑗 , calculate 𝑎̂, 𝑏̂ and 𝑐̂

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

SCALAR PRODUCT (Also known as DOT PRODUCT)

If they are in the form 𝑟1 = 𝑥1 𝑖 + 𝑦1 𝑗 and 𝑟2 = 𝑥2 𝑖 + 𝑦2 𝑗

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The formula for multiplying is: 𝑟1 • 𝑟2 = 𝑥1 𝑥2 + 𝑦1 𝑦2
~ ~

If 𝑎 = 2𝑖 − 4𝑗 𝑏 = 3𝑖 + 5𝑗 𝑐 = 𝑖 − 2𝑗 𝑑 = 5𝑖 − 𝑗
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Calculate the following

𝑎•𝑏 𝑐•𝑑 𝑎•𝑑 𝑐•𝑏

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

26
VECTOR PROJECTION / RESOLUTE
We break vectors into horizontal and vertical components.

We can also break any vector into 2 components, so it is parallel & perpendicular to a 2nd vector.
We can then break the vector 𝑎 into vectors that are parallel and perpendicular to 𝑏
~ ~
For example

Parallel to 𝑏 Perpendicular to 𝑏
𝑎 𝑏 ~ ~
~ ~

VECTOR RESOLUTE OF 𝑎 IN THE DIRECTION OF 𝑏 IS GIVEN BY This part in the bracket becomes a constant.
~ ~ The SCALAR resolute is the magnitude of this vector
(This breaks 𝑎 into the first vector that is parallel to 𝑏) 𝑎 •𝑏
~ ~ parallel to b and is given by 𝑎 • 𝑏̂ = ~ ~
~ ~ |𝑏 |
Vector Projection of (𝑎 ̂ ) 𝑏̂ = |𝑎| 𝑏̂ 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜃)
on 𝑏): 𝑝 = (𝑎 • 𝑏 PROOF (see Torch picture above)
~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
You are breaking a vector up (𝑢) into the direction of (𝑣).
~ ~
𝑏 𝑏 𝑎 •𝑏 𝑎 •𝑏 The length that you need to travel in the 𝑣 direction
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Which can also be written as 𝑝 = (𝑎 • ) =( 2 )𝑏 = ( )𝑏 (Easier to calculate) ~
~ ~ |𝑏 | |𝑏 | |𝑏 | ~ 𝑏 •𝑏 ~ 𝑎𝑑𝑗
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ (Determined from the right-angled triangle and 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = ℎ𝑦𝑝
)
To then break 𝑎 into the second vector that is perpendicular to, 𝑑 = |𝑢| 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 and since 𝑣. 𝑢 = |𝑣| |𝑢| 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
we use vector addition. Scalar Resolute (Magnitude of vector in direction of 𝑣)
𝑎 𝑢•𝑣 𝑣
~
~ ~ ~ ~
𝑑 = |𝑢| 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = =𝑢• = 𝑢 • 𝑣̂ (Easier to calc)
~ |𝑣 | ~ |𝑣 | ~ ~
𝑎 = Parallel to 𝑏 + Perpendicular to 𝑏 ~ ~
~ ~ ~ Perpendicular to 𝑏
~ Vector Resolute: Since 𝑣 has a magnitude of |𝑣| normally,
~ ~
Parallel 𝑣
~
to 𝑏 we change to a unit vector 𝑣̂ = so it has a magnitude of
~ ~ |𝑣|
So Perpendicular to 𝑏 = − Parallel to 𝑏 + 𝑎 ~
1, and multiply by the Scalar resolute distance to get the
~ ~ ~
vector parallel to 𝑣 with correct distance
~
If 𝑎 = 𝑖 + 3𝑗 and 𝑏 = 2𝑖 − 2𝑗 , Calculate 𝑣 𝑣 𝑢 •𝑣 𝑢 •𝑣
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Vector Res = (𝑢 • 𝑣̂) 𝑣̂ = (𝑢 • ~
) ~
= (~ ~2 ) 𝑣 = (~ ~) 𝑣
~ ~ ~ ~ |𝑣| |𝑣| |𝑣 | 𝑣 •𝑣
~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The scalar and vector resolute of 𝑎 in the direction of 𝑏 The vector component of 𝑏 perpendicular to 𝑎
~ ~ ~ ~

ANGLE BETWEEN VECTORS

𝑟1 •𝑟2
~ ~
Rearranging the equation 𝑟1 • 𝑟2 = |𝑟1 | |𝑟2 | 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 then the angle between 𝑟1 and 𝑟2 is 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 =
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ |𝑟1 ||𝑟2 |
~ ~
2
Obviously if same vectors (they are parallel, so angle in-between is zero), then cos θ = 1, so 𝑎 • 𝑎 = |𝑎 |
~ ~ ~

Find the angle (in degrees) between the following vectors

𝑎 = 𝑖 + √3𝑗 and 𝑏 = −2𝑖 + 2√3𝑗 𝑎 = 2𝑖 − 2𝑗 and negative direction of the y-axis

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

27
BREAKING INTO NON-HORIZONTAL / VERTICAL COMPONENTS
If breaking any vector 𝑎 into 2 other non-perpendicular vectors (𝑏 and 𝑐 ) it will be a scalar multiple of both vectors added together.
~ ~ ~
This means 𝑎 = 𝜆𝑏 + 𝜇𝑐. Substitute the vectors into these which will set up 2 equations, 2 unknowns with these
~ ~ ~
constants λ and μ which you solve.

Using 𝑏 = 2𝑖 + 3𝑗 and 𝑐 = 4𝑖 − 𝑗 as base vectors, express each of the following in the form 𝜆𝑏 + 𝜇𝑐 .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
a) 𝑎 = 5𝑖 + 3𝑗 b) 𝑎 = 6𝑖 − 4𝑗
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

PROOFS
• BISECT Vector passes through the Midpoint
• COLLINEAR If 3 points are collinear, they will share the same line.
→ →
To prove A, B and C are collinear then there must be a constant n where 𝑛 𝐴𝐵 = 𝐵𝐶
• EQUILIBRIUM Overall Force on an object is zero (From F = ma, it remains at rest or constant speed)
• LINEARLY DEPENDENT If 3 vectors: 𝑎, 𝑏 and 𝑐 are linearly dependent then one of the vectors is some
~ ~ ~
combination of the others. This means you can find constants m and n such that 𝑎 = 𝑚𝑏 + 𝑛𝑐
~ ~ ~
→ → 1→
• MIDPOINT If M is the midpoint of AB, then the formula to find the midpoint is 𝑂𝑀 = 𝑂𝐴 + 𝐴𝐵
2
• PARALLEL Vectors are parallel if one is the other multiplied by a NON-ZERO constant (the ratio of right to
up is the same). The official proof is 𝑢 and 𝑏𝑣 are parallel if there is a constant c where 𝑣 = 𝑐𝑢
~ ~ ~ ~
• PERPENDICULAR If the Scalar product between 2 lines equals zero, then the lines are perpendicular
Since 𝑎 • 𝑏 = |𝑎 | |𝑏| 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 , If 𝑎 • 𝑏 = 0, therefore 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 = 0 so 𝜃 = 90°
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2
Note: You may often need to use 𝑎 • 𝑎 = |𝑎|
~ ~ ~

Suppose OABC is a rhombus, prove that the diagonals of a rhombus intersect at right angles

Prove that the diagonals of a parallelogram bisect each other

Points A, B and C have position vectors 𝑎 = 4𝑖 + 𝑗 , 𝑏 = 3𝑖 + 5𝑗 and 𝑐 = −5𝑖 + 3𝑗 . Prove that ABC is a right-angled
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
→
triangle. Note: Position vector means it is taken from the origin, for example 𝑎 = 𝑂𝐴
~

28