Calculus and Vectors How to get an A+

6.2 Addition and Subtraction of Geometric Vectors

A Addition of two Vectors

r r r
The vector addition s of two vectors a and b is
r r
denoted by a + b and is called the sum or resultant
of the two vectors. So:
r r r
s = a +b

B Triangle Rule (Tail to Tip Rule) C Polygon Rule

In order to find the sum (resultant) of two geometric
vectors:
a) Place the second vector with its tail on the tip
(head) of the first vector.
b) The sum (resultant) is a vector with the tail at the
tail of the first vector and the head at the head of
the second vector.
In order to find the sum (resultant) of n geometric vectors:
a) Place the next vector with its tail on the tip (head) of the
precedent vector.
b) The sum (resultant) is a vector with the tail at the tail of
the first vector and the head at the head of the last vector.
r
s = v1 + v 2 + ... + v n

Ex 1. Use the following diagram and the triangle Ex 2. Use the following diagram and the triangle rule
rule compute the required operations. compute the required operations.

r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
a) a + b b) b + c c) a + c a) a + b + c b) b + c + d c) a + b + c + d

6.2 Addition and Subtraction of Geometric Vectors

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D Parallelogram Rule (Tail to Tail Rule) Ex 3. Use the parallelogram rule to compute the required
To add two geometric vectors, the following rule operations:
can also be used:
a) Position both vectors with their tails at the same
point.
b) Build a parallelogram using the vectors as two
sides.
c) The sum (resultant) is given by the diagonal of
the parallelogram starting from the common tail
point.

r r r r r r
a) a + b b) b + c c) a + c

E Sine Law F Cosine Law

For any triangle ABC For any triangle ABC

The following relation is true: The following relations are true:

a 2 = b 2 + c 2 2bc cos A
sin A sin B sin C
= = b 2 = a 2 + c 2 2ac cos B
a b c
This is called the sine law. c 2 = a 2 + b 2 2ab cos C
Any of these is called the cosine law.
G Magnitude and Direction for Vector Sum The magnitude of the vector sum is given by:
r r r
Let = (a , b ) be the angle between the vectors a r r r r r r
r || a + b || 2 =|| a || 2 + || b || 2 2 || a || || b || cos
and b when they are placed tail to tail. (1)
= 180
r r r
The direction of the vector sum s = a + b is defined by the
angles and formed by the vector sum and the vectors
r r
b and a respectively:
r r r r
|| a || || b || || a + b ||
= = (2)
sin sin sin

6.2 Addition and Subtraction of Geometric Vectors

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r
Ex 4. Analyze the following specific cases of Ex 5. Given the magnitude of two vectors || a ||= 4 and
addition of two vectors. Explain and make a r
|| b ||= 7 , and the angle between them when placed tail to tail
diagram.
as being = 60 , find the magnitude of the vector sum
r r r
a) = 0 s = a + b and the direction (the angles between the vector
sum and each vector). Draw a diagram.

r r r r
|| a + b ||=|| a || + || b ||
b) = / 2

= 180 = 180 60 = 120

r r r r r r
|| a + b || 2 =|| a || 2 + || b || 2 2 || a || || b || cos
r
r r r 2 r 2 || b || = 4 2 + 7 2 2(4)(7) cos120 = 93
|| a + b ||= || a || + || b || , tan = r
|| a || r r
|| a + b ||= 93 9.644
c) = r r r
|| a || || a + b || 4 93
= =
sin sin sin sin 120
4 sin 60
= sin 1 21.05
r r r r 93
|| a + b ||=| || a || || b || |
= 180 120 21.05 = 38.95
r r r r
Ex 6. Given || a ||= 4 , || b ||= 6 , and || a + b ||= 8 , find H Vector Subtraction
r r r
r The subtraction operation between two vectors a b can be
the angle between the vectors a and b (when
r r understood as a vector addition between the first vector and
placed tail to tail) = (a , b ) . the opposite of the second vector:
r r r r r r r r r r r
|| a + b || 2 =|| a || 2 + || b || 2 2 || a || || b || cos d = a b = a + (b )
r r r r
|| a ||2 + || b || 2 || a + b || 2 4 2 + 6 2 8 2
cos = r r = = 0.25
2 || a || || b || 2(4)(6)
= cos 1 (0.25) = 104.48
= 180 = 180 104.48 = 75.52

Ex 7. Compute the required operations.

r r r r r r
a) a b b) b c c) a c

6.2 Addition and Subtraction of Geometric Vectors

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 Calculus and Vectors How to get an A+

I Inverse Operation
The vector subtraction operation is the inverse o
operation of the vector addition:
r r r r r r
d =a b a =b +d

r
J Magnitude and Direction for Vector Difference Ex 8. Given the magnitude of two vectors || a ||= 10 and
r r r r r r
Let a and b be two vectors and d = a b be the || b ||= 14 , and the angle between them when placed tail to
vector difference. Let be the angle between the
r r tail as being = 120 , find the magnitude of the vector
vectors a and b when they are placed tail to tail: r r r
difference d = a b and the direction (the angles between
the vector sum and each vector). Draw a diagram.

The magnitude of the vector difference is given by:

r r r r r r
|| a b || 2 =|| a || 2 + || b || 2 2 || a || || b || cos (3)
r r r r r r
|| a b || 2 =|| a || 2 + || b || 2 2 || a || || b || cos
r r r
The direction of the vector difference d = a b is = 10 2 + 14 2 2(10)(14) cos120 = 436
defined by the angles and formed by the r r
r r || a b ||= 436 20.88
vector sum and the vectors b and a respectively: r r r
|| a || || a b || 10 436
= =
r r r r sin sin sin sin 120
|| a || || b || || a b ||
= = (4) 10 sin 120
sin sin sin = sin 1 24.50
436
= 180 120 24.50 = 35.50
r r r r r r
Ex 9. Given || a ||= 10 , || b ||= 15 , and || a + b ||= 20 , Ex 10. A cube is constructed from three vectors a , b , and
r r r r r
find || a b || . c , as shown in the left figure. Express in terms of a , b , and
r
c:
r r r r r r a) AF
|| a + b || 2 =|| a || 2 + || b || 2 2 || a || || b || cos
r r r r r r
=|| a || 2 + || b ||2 2 || a || || b || cos(180 ) AF = a + c
r r r r
=|| a || 2 + || b ||2 +2 || a || || b || cos
r r r r r r b) CF
|| a b || 2 =|| a || 2 + || b || 2 2 || a || || b || cos r r
CF = b + c
r r r r r r
|| a + b || 2 + || a b ||2 = 2 || a || 2 +2 || b || 2
r r r r r r c) AG
|| a b || 2 = 2 || a || 2 +2 || b || 2 || a + b || 2
r r r
= 2(10 2 ) + 2(15 2 ) 20 2 = 200 + 450 400 = 250 AG = a + b + c
r r
|| a b ||= 250 = 5 10
d) BH
r r r
BH = a + b + c

Reading: Nelson Textbook, Pages 282-289

Homework: Nelson Textbook: Page 290 #2, 5, 7, 12, 13, 14, 16

6.2 Addition and Subtraction of Geometric Vectors

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