Vectors

A vector is a quantity which has both magnitude and direction. Examples include, force,
displacement, acceleration, momentum and velocity.

Representation of a vector

A vector is represented by a line with an arrow to indicate the direction of the vector.
A
OA
O
where the order of the letters shows the direction

Vectors in dimensions

Vectors can be represented in three dimensions as I, j and k along the x, y and z- axes respectively

Resultant of vectors

When several vectors (V1, V2, V3… Vn) are acting on a point object, the net vector R, is calculated as
the vector sum

R = V1 + V2 + V3 + … + Vn = ∑

Example 1

Find the resultant of the following vectors

(a) (2i + 3j + 3k) and (2i + 4j – 8k)

( ) ( ) ( )( )

(b) (7i – 4j + 3k), (5i -2j + 8k), (i –k)

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
Example 2

The resultant of (5i -2j), (7i + 4j), (ai + bj) and (-3i + 2j) is (5i + 5j). Find the values of a and b.

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

=( ) ( )

9 + a = 5; a = -4 also 4 + b = 5; b = 1

Example 3

The resultant of the forces (3i + (a-c)j)N, ((2a + 3c)I + 5j)N and (4i, 6j)N acting on a particle is
(10i + 12j)N. find

(i) Values of a and c

(i) + 3(ii)
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
2a + 3c + 7 = 10 5a = 6; a = 1.2
2a + 3c = 3 ……….. (i) from eqn. (ii)
a –c +11 = 12
a – c = 1 ………….. (ii) c = 0.2

(ii) magnitude of (2a + 3c)I + 5j

R = (2a + 3c)I + 5j = (1.2 x 2 + 3 x 0.2)i + 5j = 3i + 5j

| | √

Magnitude or modulus of a vector

This is the length of a vector

(i) Given R = xi + yj; | | √

(ii) Given R = xi + yj + zk; | | √

Example 5

Find the magnitude of the following vectors

(a) 3i + 4j; | | √ =5
(b) 3i + 2j – 6k; | | √

Direction of a vector
Consider R = xi + yj

( )
Example 6

Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant of each of the following

(a) (2i + 3j)N, (5t – 2j)N, (-3i, 3j)

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) 4
𝜃 (4)= 450
| | √ = 5.6569N

(b) ( ) ( ) ( )
0
𝜃 ( )= 1800
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
| | √ = 2N

Example 7

Four forces of ai + (a-1)j, 3i + 2aj, 5i -6j, and –i -2j act on a particle. The resultant forces make an
angle of 450 with horizontal. Find a. Hence determine the magnitude of the resultant force.

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) 𝑎 0
𝑎 9
=1

=( ) a + 7 = 3a – 9, a = 8
𝑎
𝑅 ( ) ( ) ( )
𝑎 𝑥
|𝑅| √ = 21.21N

Unit vector
This a vector whose magnitude is unit (1)

Unit vector of r denoted by r = | |

Example 8

Find the unit vector of a = 6i -2j + 3k

Solution

a= =
√

Parallel vectors

If vectors a and b are parallel, then one of them is a scalar multiple of the other.

If a vector r of magnitude | | moves in direction xi + yj + zk then, r =| | ( )

√

Example 9

Find the vector, V which has a magnitude of 15 units and is parallel to 16i + 12j
V = 15 x
√ 0

Example 10

A body of velocity v and of magnitude 20m/s moves in the direction 6i + 8j. Find V.

V = 20 x
√ 0

Example 11

A force of magnitude 12N acts on a body in the direction 2i + j + 2k. Find the force

V = 12 x
√

Example 12

The force A of magnitude 5N in the direction with unit vector and force B of magnitude
13N in the direction with unit vector . Find the resultant forces of A and B.

FA = F = ( )+ ( ) ( )

FB = |𝐹| √ = 11.3137N

Example 13

A particle P moves through a displacement of 2m when acted o by two forces F1 and F2. Find the
work done by the resultant force, if F1 = i – j and F2 = 10 N and acts in the direction 4i + 3j

Solution
F =( ) ( )=( )
F1 = i – j
4 |𝐹| √ = 10.2956N
F2 = = 8i + 6j
√4
W = |𝐹| 𝑥 𝑑 10.2956 x 2 = 20.5912J

Revision exercise 1
(Answers are given in square brackets at the end of each question)

1. Find the resultant of each of the following forces

(a) (6i + 2j)N, (-5i + j)N, (3i – 3j)N. [(4i)N]
(b) (2i + 4j)N, (3i -5j), (6i +2j)N, (-7i – 7j)N. [(4i -6j)N]
(c) (2i + 3j -7k)N, (2i + 5k)N, (3j + 4k)N. [(4i + 6j + 2k)N]
2. The resultant of forces (5i + 7j), (ai + bj) and (bi –aj)N is a force (11i + 5j)N. Find a and b.
[a = 4, b = 2]
3. Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant of each of the following;
(a) (-2i + 5j)N, (I + 2j)N. [ 7.07N at 98.10]
(b) (6i + 2j)N, (4i – 3j)N. [10.05N at 354.30]
(c) (3i + 2j), (-5i + j)N. [3.61N at 1240]
4. A force of magnitude 50N acts on a body in the direction 24i + 7j. Find the force. [(48i + 14j)]
 5. Two forces F1 and F2 have magnitude αN and βN and act in the direction i -2j and 4i + 3j
respectively. Given that the resultant of F1 and F2 is (48i + 14j). Find the magnitude of αN and
βN. *α = 8√ N and β = 50N+
6. If a = 3i + 4j, b = 4i + 20j and c = 5i – 19j; find the
(i) resultant of a and b [(7i + 24j)]
(ii) resultant of a and c [(8i – 15j)]
(iii) vector is parallel to a and has magnitude of 15 unit [(9i + 12j)]
(iv) vector parallel to (a + b) and has a magnitude of 100 units [(28i + 96j]
7. If a = 2i + 5j, b = -7i + 7j and 14i. Find the;
(i) resultant of a and b [(-5i + 12j)]
(ii) resultant of a, b and c [(9i + 12j)]
(iii) |b| [7√ ]
(iv) |a + b + c| [15units]
(v) vector is parallel to a and has a magnitude of 5√ units. (10i + 25j)
(vi) Vector is parallel to (a + b + c) and has magnitude 90 units. [(54i + 72j)]
8. If a = i -3j + 2k, b = 5i + 4j and c = 3i + j + 4k. Find the
(i) resultant of a and b [(6i + j + 2k)]
(ii) resultant of a, b and c.[(9i + 2j + 6k)
(iii) |a| [√ ]
(iv) |a + b + c|[11units]
(v) Vector parallel to (a + b + c) and has magnitude 5 units [
9. If a = 2i + 7j + 7k, b = 6i -3j + 2k and c = -4j -3k. find the
(i) resultant a and b [8i +4jj + 9k]
(ii) resultant a and c [2i + 3j + 4k
(iii) |b| [7units]
(iv) |a + b + c| [10 units]
(v) vector is parallel to |a + b + c| and has magnitude of 50 units [40i + 30k]

Scalar products or dot products

The dot product of two vectors p=( ) and q= ( ) is given by p.q =( ) . ( )= ac - bd

The dot product of two vectors a and b inclined at angle θ is given by

a.b = | || |

Note

If two vectors are perpendicular then the angle between them is 900 and

a.b = | || |

Example 14

The vector a = 3i + 2j and b = 4i – 5j

Determine
 (a) Magnitude of b
| |=√ = 6.403

(b) A.b (05marks)

(3 x 4)+ (2 x -5) = 12 – 10 = 2

Example 15

Given a = ( ) and b = ( ), find the;

(a) dot product of a and b. (02 marks)

(5 x -3) + (-12x 4) = -93

(b) angle between the vectors a and b. (03 marks)

Solution
Let the angle be θ
√ .√ cosθ = -93
x 5 cosθ = 93
9

Example 16

Point A, Band C have position vectors, 2j, 4i, and 2i – 2j respectively in the x – y plane.

(a) Find 2OA + 3OB – 4OC. (04 marks)

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

(b) Determine;

(i) AB and AC (04marks)

AB = AO + OB =( ) ( ) ( )

AC = AO + OC = ( ) ( ) ( )

(ii) AB + AC (03mark)

( ) ( ) ( )

(iii) angle BAC (05 marks)

Dot product of vector BA = ( )and AC = ( ) = (-4 x 2) + (2 x -4) = -16

Let the angle be θ

| || |

√ .√ cosθ = -16
 ( 0)= 143.10

Example 17

If OA = ( ), OB = ( ) and OC =( )

(a) find the vectors;

(i) BC

Solution

BC = BO + OC

=( ) ( ) ( )

(ii) AB (06 marks)

AB = AO + OB

=( ) ( ) ( )

(b) Show that vectors AB and BC are perpendicular. (03 marks)

For perpendicular vectors
[Link] =0
[Link] = ( ) ( ) = (3 x -2)+(-3 x -2) = -6 + 6 = 0
Hence AB and BC are perpendicular
(c) Determine the magnitude of the vector 2BC – 3AB. (06 marks)
2BC – 3AB = 2( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
| |=√ =√ =√ = 13.15

Example 18

If a = i – 2k and b = 3i – 3j + k, find

(i) a.b (ii) the angle between a and b

Solution

(i) a.b = ( ) ( )= 3 + 0 + -2 = 1

(ii) (| || |
) = 84.10
√ √

Example 19

If p = 2i – j + 3k and q = i + 4j + 3k; find the angle between p and q.

Solution
p.q = ( ) ( ) = 2 + -4 + 9 = 7

(| )
|| |
= 680
√ √ 4

Example 20

If the angle between two vectors a = xi + 2j and b = 3i + j is [Link] the two possible values of
constant x.

Solution

( ) ( ) √ .√ x2 + 3x – 4 = 0

√ (x + 4)(x -1) = 0
3x + 2 = √ √
x = -4 and x = 1
(3x + 2)2 = (x2 + 4). 10 x 4

Example 21

If p = 2αi + 7j – k and q = 3αi + αj + [Link] the value of the scalar α if the vectors are perpendicular

Solution

( ) ( )

6α2 + 7α – 3 = 0

α = and α =

Example 22

The points P and Q have position vectors OP= –2i – 5j and OQ = i – 2j respectively. R is appoint such
that OR = OP + λPQ.

(a) Find the:

(i) value of [Link]

-1 x 2 + -5 x -2 = 8

(ii) angle between the two vectors OP and OQ. (07 marks)

[Link]=| || |

8=√ √

8=√ √

8=√

cosθ =
√ 4
 = 48.370(2D)
√ 4

(b) Determine the

(i) vector PQ

PQ = PO + OQ

=( ) ( )

= ( ) Or (3i + 3j)

(ii) vector OR in terms of λ

OR = ( ) ( ) ( )

(iii) the value of λ for which OR is perpendicular to PQ. (08 marks)

When OR is perpendicular to PQ

Then [Link] = 0

( ) ( )

-6 + 9λ- 15 + 9λ =

18λ = 21

λ=

Revision exercise 2
(Answers are given in square brackets [ ] at the end of each question)

1. Find the scalar products for each of the following pairs of vectors.
(i) a = 2i + j, b = i - 3j [-1]
(ii) a = 3i, b = -2i + j [-6] (vii) ( ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ( ) [8]
(iii) a = 5i + j - 2k, b= 4i + 3j – 8k [39]
(iv) 2i + 4j – 15k and -8i + 2j – k [7]
(v) ( ) ( ) [4] (vi) ( ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ( ) [2]

(vi) ( ) ( ) [6]
2. Find the angles between each of the following pairs of vectors
(i) 3i + 4j and 5i – 12j [1210]
(ii) 3i and -2j [900] (v) ( ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ( ) [820]
(iii) 2i + 3j – 6k and 2i + j + 2k [100]
(iv) i + 2j – k and –I + 2j – k [480] (vi) ( ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ( ) [920]
 (v) (vii) ( ) ( ) [1200] (viii) ( ) ( ) [730]

3. If a = αi + 2j – k and b = 5i –αj + k. Find the value of the scalar α if the vectors are perpendicular
[ ]
4. If a = 2i + αj and b = -α – k. Find the value of the scalar α if the vectors are perpendicular [0]
5. If a = 4i + 5j and b = qi – 8j. Find the value of scalar q if the vectors are perpendicular. [10]
6. If a = 6i – j and b = 2i + pk. Find the value of scalar p if the vectors are perpendicular [12]

7. Given ( ) and ( ) are perpendicular vectors. Find the value of q. [18]

8. If a = qi + 8j +(3q + 1)k and b = (q+1)I + (q-1)j – 2k. Find the value of the possible values of
constant q if the vectors are perpendicular. [2 or -2]

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