TOPICS TO BE DISCUSS

 Vectors in Space
 Linear Independence (Lines and Planes)
VECTOR IN
SPACE
RENETH KAREN Q. BRINGAS-HAVANA
MST - I
VECTOR IN SPACE

A vector v in space has a magnitude (length) and direction but no fixed location. We can
thus represent v by any one of many directed line segments in space, all having the same
length and direction.
We assume that mutually perpendicular x, y, and z axes and we assume a common unit of
distance along these axes. Then every point P in space has coordinates (x, y, z) with respect
to these axes. The origin O has coordinates (0, 0, 0).
z

v The direction from O to P is the length of v.

Thus,
𝑣𝑥
𝑣𝑧
𝑣𝑦 𝑣=⃗
𝑂𝑃
P
v
O
x
z
y y
x
We assume that mutually perpendicular x, y, and z and we assume a common unit of
distance along these axes. Then every point P in space has coordinates (x, y, z) with respect
to these axes. The origin O has coordinates (0, 0, 0).
z

v The components of v along axes. Thus,

𝑣𝑥
𝑣𝑧 𝑣 𝑥 =𝑥 , 𝑣 𝑦 = 𝑦 , 𝑣 𝑧 = 𝑧
𝑣𝑦
P With the aid of operations a general vector
v
O can be represented as,
x
z 𝑣=𝑣 𝑥 𝑖+𝑣 𝑦 𝑗+𝑣 𝑧 𝑘
y y where i, j, k, are unit vectors ,having a length of 1,
x
having the directions of the coordinate axes
By the Pythagorean theorem, v has the magnitude, denoted by .
For the distance of P: (x, y, z)from O is

z
More generally, for where and , one has and the distance
between and is

k
i j
𝑣𝑥 𝑖 v 𝑑=|𝑣|=|⃗ √
𝑃 1 𝑃 2|= ( 𝑥 2 − 𝑥1 )2 + ( 𝑦 2 − 𝑦 1 )2 +2( 𝑧 2
−𝑧 1) ¿¿

x y
𝑣𝑦 𝑗 𝑣𝑧 𝑘
The vector can have 0 length, in which case only when P coincides with 0. Thus,

𝑣=0
And it is called as zero
vector.
Otherwise, vector v is completely specified by its components Thus,

𝑣=( 𝑣 𝑥 , 𝑣 𝑦 , 𝑣 𝑧 )

Thus, we think of a vector in space as an ordered triple of numbers.

The dot product ( or inner product) of two vectors v, w in space is the number

𝑣 ∙ 𝑤=|𝑣||𝑤|𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃
where
When v or w is 0, the angle is indeterminate, and
We also have when v, w are orthogonal
(perpendicular) vectors, We agree to say that 0 vector
𝜃=∢ ( 𝑣 ,𝑤 ) is orthogonal to all vectors (and parallel to all vectors).
w

v
The dot product satisfies some algebraic rules:

Here c is scalar
COMPONENT

v The quantity is interpreted as the component of v in the

direction of w.

𝑐𝑜𝑚
𝑝
𝑤 𝑣
w This can be positive, negative, or 0.
The angles are called direction angles of v; the corresponding cosines are the direction
cosines of v.

Accordingly,
,
Thus the vector has components we observe that this vector is a unit vector, since its length
is
Since etc., we can compute the dot product of

As follows:
))

We conclude:
VECTOR PRODUCT

The vector product or cross product of two

𝑤=𝑢× 𝑣 vectors u, v is defined with reference to a
chosen orientation of space.
v 𝜃
This is usually specified by a right-handed
u
xyz-coordinate system in space.
VECTOR PRODUCT

An ordered triple of vectors is ten called a positive triple if

𝑤=𝑢× 𝑣 the vectors can be moved continuously to attain the
respective directions of I, j, k eventually without making
v 𝜃 one of the vectors lie in a plane parallel to the other two; a
u practical test for this is by aligning the vectors with the
thumb, index finger, and middle finger of the right hand.
VECTOR PRODUCT

The triple is called negative if the test can be

𝑤=𝑢× 𝑣 satisfied by using j, I, k instead I, j, k. if one
of the vectors is 0 or all three vectors are
v 𝜃 coplanar (can be represented in one plane),
u the definition is not applicable.
VECTOR PRODUCT

The vector product or cross product of two

𝑤=𝑢× 𝑣 vectors u, v is defined with reference to a
chosen orientation of space.
v 𝜃
This is usually specified by a right-handed
u
xyz-coordinate system in space.
VECTOR PRODUCT

Now we define , where

When u or v is 0 or when

𝑢×𝑣=0 𝑤h𝑒𝑛𝑢∥𝑣
VECTOR PRODUCT

𝑤=𝑢× 𝑣
v 𝜃
VECTOR PRODUCT

𝑤=𝑢× 𝑣 The vector product satisfies algebraic rules:

v 𝜃
The last two rules are described as the identities for vector triple products.
Since

Conclude:

This can be written as a determinant:

LINEAR
INDEPENDENCE
LINES AND PLANES
RENETH KAREN Q. BRINGAS-HAVANA
MST - I
LINEAR INDEPENDENCE LINES AND PLANES

Two vectors u, v in space are said to be linearly independent if they cannot be

represented by directed line segments on the same line. Otherwise, they are said to be
linearly dependent or collinear. When u or v is 0, the vectors are considered to be
linearly dependent.
Thus,
LINEAR INDEPENDENCE LINES AND PLANES

v
v
u

Linearly independent vectors u, v Linearly dependent vectors u, v

 LINEAR INDEPENDENCE LINES AND PLANES

Three vectors u, v, w in space are said to be linearly independent when they cannot be
represented by directed line segments in the same plane. Otherwise, they are said to be linearly
dependent or coplanar.
w u v

u
v

Linearly independent vectors u, v, w Linearly dependent vectors u, v, w

LINEAR INDEPENDENCE LINES AND PLANES

We can conclude that:

Vectors in space are linearly independent if the only scalars such that

are
 LINEAR INDEPENDENCE LINES AND PLANES

For k = 2, and are linear dependent if for some scalars that are not both 0. if, say, then

Thus is a scalar times and is collinear with (if

LINEAR INDEPENDENCE LINES AND PLANES

Similarly, for k = 3, are linearly dependent if for some scalars that are not all 0. Then,

Thus is a linear combination of and , so the three must be coplanar.

𝑐2
− 𝑢
𝑐 3 2𝑢
3
𝑢2
The vector as a linear combination of , .
𝑢1 𝑐1
− 𝑢
𝑐3 1
LINEAR INDEPENDENCE LINES AND PLANES

For four vectors in space, they must be linearly dependent. Let the vectors be . There are
two possibilities: (a) are linear dependent, and (b) are linear independent. In case (a),

For some scalars not all 0. but then

With not all of 0. Thus, are linearly dependent. In case (b), are not coplanar and hence
can be represented by directed edges of a parallelepiped in space.
 LINEAR INDEPENDENCE LINES AND PLANES

𝑢4 Accordingly, there cannot be four linearly

𝑐 2 𝑢2
𝑐 3 𝑢3 independent vectors in space. By similar reasoning
𝑢2 we see that every k greater than 3 there is no set of
𝑢3 k linearly independent vectors in space.
𝑢1 𝑐 1 𝑢1 Every triple of linearly independent vectors in
Expression of as a linear combination of space serves as a basis for vectors in space; that is,
every vector in space can be expressed uniquely as
a linear combination .
 LINEAR INDEPENDENCE LINES AND PLANES

𝑧
Planes in space. If is a point of a plane and is
a nonzero normal vector (perpendicular to the
𝑛
plane), then is in the plane precisely when
𝑃
𝑃1
or
𝑥
𝑦
 LINEAR INDEPENDENCE LINES AND PLANES

𝑧
This can be written as a linear equation

𝑛
𝑃 And every linear equation (A, B, C not all 0)
represents a plane, with as a normal vector.
𝑃1
𝑥
𝑦
LINEAR INDEPENDENCE LINES AND PLANES

Planes in space. If is a point of a plane and is a nonzero normal vector (perpendicular to the plane), then
is in the plane precisely when

Or

This can be written as a linear equation

And every linear equation (A, B, C not all 0) represents a plane, with n = Ai+ Bj + Ck as a normal vector.
LINEAR INDEPENDENCE LINES AND PLANES

Lines in space. If and is a nonzero vector along the line (that is, representable by a directed
line segment joining two points of the line), then is on the line precisely when

That is, when v and are linearly dependent. Since must be a scalar times v:

Where t can be any number.

LINEAR INDEPENDENCE LINES AND PLANES

We obtain parametric equations of the line:

If v happens to be a unit vector, then , so that t can be regarded as a distance coordinate

along the line. In this case we usually replace t by s, so that

s=
𝑃1𝑣