A vector is a quantity that has both magnitude and

direction. It is represented by an arrow. The length of

the vector represents the magnitude and the arrow
indicates the direction of the vector.
Two vectors are equal if they have the same direction and
magnitude (length).
Blue and orange
vectors have
same magnitude
but different
direction.
Blue and green
vectors have
same direction
but different
magnitude.
Blue and purple
vectors have
same magnitude
and direction so
they are equal.
P
Q
Initial
Point
Terminal
Point
How can we find the magnitude if we
have the initial point and the terminal
point?
( )
2 2
, y x
( )
1 1
, y x
The distance formula
How can we find the direction? (Is this all looking familiar
for each application? You can make a right triangle and
use trig to get the angle!)
( )
2 2
, y x
( )
1 1
, y x
Q
Terminal
Point
Although it is possible to do this for
any initial and terminal points, since
vectors are equal as long as the
direction and magnitude are the
same, it is easiest to find a vector
with initial point at the origin and
terminal point (x, y).
( ) y x,
( ) 0 , 0
If we subtract the initial point from the
terminal point, we will have an
equivalent vector with initial point at
the origin.
P
Initial
Point
A vector whose
initial point is
the origin is
called a
position vector
To add vectors, we put the initial point of the second
vector on the terminal point of the first vector. The
resultant vector has an initial point at the initial point
of the first vector and a terminal point at the terminal
point of the second vector (see below--better shown
than put in words).
v w +
Initial point of v
v
w
Move w over keeping
the magnitude and
direction the same.
To add vectors, we put the initial point of the second
vector on the terminal point of the first vector. The
resultant vector has an initial point at the initial point
of the first vector and a terminal point at the terminal
point of the second vector (see below--better shown
than put in words).
To add vectors, we put the initial point of the second
vector on the terminal point of the first vector. The
resultant vector has an initial point at the initial point
of the first vector and a terminal point at the terminal
point of the second vector (see below--better shown
than put in words).
Terminal
point of w
w
The negative of a vector is just a vector going the opposite
way.
v
v
A number multiplied in front of a vector is called a scalar. It
means to take the vector and add together that many times.
v
v
v
v 3
u
v
w
v u+
u
v
w 3
w
w
w
Using the vectors shown,
find the following:
v u
u
v
v w u + +3 2
u
u
w
w
w
v
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
b
a
v
Vectors are denoted with bold
letters
(a, b)
This is the notation for a
position vector. This means
the point (a, b) is the
terminal point and the initial
point is the origin.
We use vectors that are only 1
unit long to build position
vectors. i is a vector 1 unit long
in the x direction and j is a vector
1 unit long in the y direction.
i
j
j i v b a
b
a
+ =
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
(3, 2)
i
j
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
2
3
v
i i
j
j i v 2 3 + =
j i j i 4 3 5 2 + +
If we want to add vectors that are in the form ai + bj, we can
just add the i components and then the j components.
j i v 5 2 + =
= +w v
j i + =
Let's look at this geometrically:
i 2
j 5
v
i 3
j 4
w
i
j
When we want to know
the magnitude of the
vector (remember this is
the length) we denote it
v ( ) ( )
2 2
5 2 + =
Can you
see from
this picture
how to find
the length
of v?
29 =
j i w 4 3 =
A unit vector is a vector with magnitude 1.
j i w 4 3 =
If we want to find the unit vector having the same
direction as a given vector, we find the magnitude of the
vector and divide the vector by that value.
What is ? w
( ) ( )
2 2
3 4 = + w 5 25 = =
If we want to find the unit vector having the same direction
as w we need to divide w by 5.
j i u
5
4
5
3
=
Let's check this to see if it really is
1 unit long.
2 2
3 4 25
1
5 5 25
| | | |
= + = =
| |
\ . \ .
u
If we know the magnitude and direction of the vector, let's
see if we can express the vector in ai + bj form.
5, 150 o = = v
150
5
As usual we can use the trig
we know to find the length
in the horizontal direction
and in the vertical direction.
( )
cos sin o o = + v v i j
( ) j i j i v
2
5
2
3 5
150 sin 150 cos 5 + = + =
Acknowledgement

I wish to thank Shawna Haider from Salt Lake Community College, Utah
USA for her hard work in creating this PowerPoint.

www.slcc.edu

Shawna has kindly given permission for this resource to be downloaded
from www.mathxtc.com and for it to be modified to suit the Western
Australian Mathematics Curriculum.



Stephen Corcoran
Head of Mathematics
St Stephens School Carramar
www.ststephens.wa.edu.au