ALAN TUITION

Name: .................

Level: ................

INTRODUCTION
y
TO VECTORS

COLUMN
15 VECTORS
A vector is a quantity that has both magnitude (size) and direction.
Force & velocity are commonly used vectors in physics, but we focus on ‘displacement’ vectors in
GCSE maths – these give the magnitude and direction of a movement from one point to another.
The following diagram shows four (displacement) vectors on a grid:

10
D
H
E

C
5

A B
F
G

0 5 10 15 20 x

Notation:
The notation AB represents the line that is drawn between A and B.
The notation !" represents the vector displacement from A to B.
y
Vector displacements can be described by the change in their horizontal and vertical coordinates –
to distinguish a vector from actual coordinates, these horizontal and vertical changes are written in a
column,
15 one above the other (x above y).

Examples:
The vectors on the grid above can be described by the following column vectors:
 ! 4 $  ! 5 $  " 5 %  ! 0 $
AB = # & CD = # & EF = $ ' GH = # &
10 "0% " 3% # −4 & "6%
D n
Since vectors have direction, every vector has a ‘reverse’ vector which is in the opposite direction:
E H
  " −4 %  " −5 %  " −5 %  " 0 %
C =$ '
BA = −AB DC = $ ' FE = $ ' HG = $ '
#0& p # −3 & #4& # −6 &
5
m
© 2017 [Link] F q
A B
G
 0 5 10 15 20 x

[Link] Enjoy • Improve • Succeed

Notes:
The starting and finishing points of a vector are represented using uppercase letters, but vectors
y
themselves are often represented using lowercase letters.
• Within text books (and other printed material) these lowercase letters are printed in bold;
15• Within hand-written text, vectors are often indicated by using a squiggly underline – e.g. a

The following diagram shows some different vectors on a grid.

This time the vectors have been labelled using lowercase letters:

10
D n

E H
C
p
5
m
F q
A B
G

0 5 10 15 20 x

" −1% " 11 % !2$ "3%

m= $ ' n= $ ' p= # & q= $ '
#3& # −1& " 4% # −1&

"1% " −11%

–m= $ ' –n= $ '
# −3& # 1 &

QUICK TASK:
Write the vectors for…

(a) –p

(b) –q

2
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PRACTICE QUESTIONS 1

(a) The following diagram shows some vectors on a grid:

Write the column vectors for each of the following:

(i) AB (ii) CD (iii) EF

(iv) HG (v) JK (vi) GH

(b) The following diagram shows some points on a grid:

Draw each of the following vectors onto the grid and then write them as column vectors:

(i) LM (iv) WN SP

(ii) RQ (v) QT PM

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MAGNITUDE OF A VECTOR

The magnitude of a vector is its length.

This can be worked out using Pythagoras.

Examples:

!2$
p= # & Magnitude of p is 2! + 4! = 4.47
" 4%

" −1%
m= $ ' Magnitude of m is (−1)! + 3! = 3.16
#3&

! ±x $
In summary, the magnitude of the vector ## && is ! ! + ! !
" ±y %

PRACTICE QUESTIONS 2

Calculate the magnitude of the following vectors.

Give your answers correct to 3 significant figures, when appropriate.

⎛ 3 ⎞ ⎛ −3 ⎞
(i) ⎜ ⎟ (iv) ⎜ ⎟
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ −5 ⎠

⎛ 5 ⎞ ⎛ 0 ⎞
(ii) ⎜ ⎟ (v) ⎜ ⎟
⎝ −2 ⎠ ⎝ 7 ⎠

⎛ 4 ⎞ ⎛ −6 ⎞
(iii) ⎜ ⎟ (vi) ⎜ ⎟
⎝ 0 ⎠ ⎝ 6 ⎠

4
 y

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15
PARALLEL VECTORS
If two vectors are parallel then they either represent exactly the same displacement, or one will be a
multiple of the other:

Q
10
M 1
p
2

E P J
K
2p p R p
5
p
–p
B F
G
L S
0 5 10 15 20 x

  

Note that BE = FJ = GK = p

Multiplying vectors:
y
The diagrams above show that:
15
  1 
LM = 2 p PQ = p RS = − p
2
"2% "2%
= 2 ×$ ' 1 "2% = −$ '
# 4& = ×$ ' # 4&
2 # 4&
10 " 4% " −2 %
=$ ' "1% =$ '
#8& =$ ' # −4 &
#2&
E
q
Note:
p another vector, then
If one vector is a multiple of T the two vectors must be parallel.
5

p+q
And:
B
If one vector is a multiple of another vector and they have a point in common, then
the two vectors must form a straight line.

0 5 10 15 20 x

5
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ADDITION OF VECTORS
Standard addition:

! 2 $ ! 3 $ ! 5$
p + q = # &+# & = # &
" 4 % " −1% " 3 %

The answer to a vector addition is called the resultant

Other ‘additions’:
"2% " 3 % !2$ ! 3 $ " 3 % "2%
p − q = $ '−$ ' p + 2q = # & + 2 # & q − 2 p = $ ' − 2$ '
# 4 & # −1& " 4 % " −1% # −1& # 4 &
" −1% !2$ ! 6 $ !8$ " 3 % " 4 % " −1 %
=$ ' = # &+# & = # & = $ '−$ ' = $ '
#5& " 4 % " −2 % " 2 % # −1& # 8 & # −9 &

These additions are shown on the diagram below:

6
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PRACTICE QUESTIONS 3

⎛ 1 ⎞ ⎛ −5 ⎞ ⎛ −2 ⎞
(a) If a =⎜ ⎟ b=⎜ ⎟ c =⎜ ⎟
⎝ 4 ⎠ ⎝ 3 ⎠ ⎝ −3 ⎠

Write as column vectors:

(i) a+b

(ii) a+c

(iii) 2a

(iv) 3c

(v) 2a – 3b

(vi) 2b – c

⎛ −4 ⎞ ⎛ 0 ⎞ ⎛ −3 ⎞
(b) If p=⎜ ⎟ q =⎜ ⎟ r =⎜ ⎟
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ −7 ⎠ ⎝ 1 ⎠

Find:
(i) the magnitude of p

(ii) 2r – q as a column vector

(iii) the magnitude of q + r

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(c) !!!" ⎛ 1 ⎞ !!!" ⎛ −7 ⎞

AB = ⎜ ⎟ CB = ⎜ ⎟
⎝ 3 ⎠ ⎝ −2 ⎠

(i) Find !" as a column vector.

(ii) Find the magnitude of !".

(d) State what you can deduce from each of the following:
(i) LM = ! and NP = 3!

(ii) MN = ! and ST = −2!

(iii) PQ = ! and QR = 2!

(iv) BC = 3! and DC = −!

8
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CORDINATES AND VECTORS
Note the difference between coordinates and (displacement) vectors:
coordinates give the location of a point on a grid
vectors give the change in the location of points.

Example 1:
!!!" ⎛ 3 ⎞ !!!" ⎛ 2 ⎞
Suppose that AB = ⎜ ⎟ and AC = ⎜ ⎟
⎝ 5 ⎠ ⎝ −3 ⎠

If the point A has coordinates (4, 6) then:

B will have coordinates (4 + 3, 6 + 5) = (8, 11)
C will have coordinates (4 + 2, 6 +–3) = (6, 3)

Example 2:
If point P has coordinates (7, 13) and point Q has the coordinates (9, 6)
!!!" ⎛ 9−7 ⎞
Then the vector PQ = ⎜ ⎟
⎝ 6 −13 ⎠
⎛ 2 ⎞
=⎜ ⎟
⎝ −7 ⎠

PRACTICE QUESTIONS 4

(a) X is the point (1, 9).

!!!" ⎛ 3 ⎞
XY = ⎜ ⎟
⎝ −5 ⎠
Find the coordinates of Y.

(b) If M is the point (4, 9) and N is the point (1, –3).

Find the vector !".

!!!" ⎛ 2 ⎞ !!!" ⎛ −3 ⎞
(c) If the point D = (1, 6) and DE = ⎜ ⎟ and FE = ⎜ ⎟
⎝ 4 ⎠ ⎝ 7 ⎠
Find the coordinates of F.

9
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VECTOR DIAGRAMS
a
Most of the time at GCSE, c
we are not concerned with column vectors – we are concerned with
finding resultants of vectorsCCusing vector diagrams. FF
In this type of question, you will usually be given a diagram showing interconnections between
different points (usually in the shape of a triangle, trapezium, parallelogram etc.). You will also
cc be
A displacements,
aa b D
B by letters. E
given two vector which will be identified b
Your task will be to work out other displacements in terms of the two vectors that are given.
This is best shown by studying the examples that follow.
AA C b BB DD F EE
b bb
Example 1 L
a c
C C F F
c
a
LL a Diagram NOT c c
a D E
A b B accurately bdrawn

J cc K X
aa
A A b B DB D E
b b b
ABC is a triangle.
JJ L KK XX
!" = ! and !" = !
Find, in terms of a and b c
a L
L
(i) !" F
C
(ii) !" Y
c c
a
J a K a X
a X
Solution 1: CC FF
(i) !" = !"
J J + !" K K YY
X X
A aa = −! + ! b XX B D aa b E

(ii) !" = !" + !"

= −! + ! DD F b
AA C b BB b EE
b
Y C
L
a X a F
C C F

a
c Y X Y
LL a X X a a a
A a D b E
b B

J cc K Z A 3b
aa
A DB D b E
A b b B b

JJ L KK ZZ
10
c
a L
L
 BB DD • Improve •FSucceed
Enjoy EE [Link]
bb
Example 2
c
F F

c c Diagram NOT
B D E accurately drawn
b
K X
B DB D E E
b b
DEF is a triangle.
KK XX
!" = ! and !" = !
Find, in terms of b and c
(i) F !"

c (ii) !" Y
K a X
Solution 2: FF
(i) !" = Y!"
Y X+ !"
K K X
B D aa b= ! − ! E

(ii) !" = !" + !"

DD F b= ! − ! EE
BB b
Y C
a F
F
Y X Y Y
X a a a
B D b E

K Z A 3b B
DB D b E E
B b

KK ZZ

c
K Z

KZ Z
K
11
 A b B D E
b
J a cc K X
a
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A A b B DB D E
b b b
Example 3

JJ L KK XX

c Diagram NOT
a L
L accurately drawn
C F

c c Y
a a
J K a X
a X
JKL isCaCtriangle. FF

!" = !J and !" = ! K YY X

J K X
A aa!" = !" XX B D aa b E
b
Find, in terms of a and c
(i) !"
C b DD F b EE
AA BB b
(iii) !"b
Y C
L !"
(iii)
a X a F
C C F

Solution
a 3:
c Y X Y Y
LL a!" = !" +X!" X a a a
a (i) D b E
A b B
=!+!
J cc K Z A 3b
aa
(ii)
A !" = 2 × !" b DB D b E E
A b B b
=2 !+!
JJ L = 2! + 2! KK ZZ

(iii) !" = !" + c!"

a L
L = −! + 2 ! + !
= ! + 2!
c c
a a
J K Z

J J KZ Z
K

12
 c
a L
L
C F
Enjoy • Improve • Succeed c [Link]
Y
a c
Example 4 J a K a X
a X
CC FF

J K YY X
J K X
A aa XX B D aa Diagram NOTb E
b
accurately drawn

C b DD F b EE
AA b BB b
Y C
ABC is a triangle. L
a X a F
!" = ! and !" = ! C C F

X is the midpoint
a of BC
c Y X Y
Find, in terms ofaa andLb
L a X X a a a
A B D b E
b
(i) !"
J cc K Z A 3
(ii) !"aa
A DB D b E
A b b B b
(iii) !"

JJ L KK ZZ
Solution 4:
(i) !" = !" + !" c
a L
L
= −! + !

(ii) 1 c
!" = × !" a c
J a 2 K Z
1
= −! + !
2
J 1J 1 K KZ Z
=− !+ !
2 2

(iii) !" = !" + !"

1
=!+ −! + !
2
1 1
= !+ !
2 2

13
 c
L
F
[Link]
c Y Enjoy • Improve • Succeed
c
K 5
Example a X
X
FF

K YY X
K X
XX B D aa b E Diagram NOT
accurately drawn

DD F b EE
BB b
Y C
DEF is a triangle.
X a F
C !" = ! and !" = ! F
c X Y
Y is the point on EF such that EYY: YF = 2:1 Y
X X
Find, in terms ofa a and b a a
B D b E
b
(i) !"
cc A
K (ii) Z !" 3b B
DB D b E E
b B (iii) !" b

KK ZZ
Solution 5:

c
L

c c
K Z

KZ Z
K

14
 A aa XX B D aa b E
b

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C b DD F b EE
ExampleAA6 b BB b
Y C
L
a X a F
C C F
c Diagram YNOT X Y
a
accurately
a
drawn
LL a X X a a
A a D b E
b B

J cc K Z A 3b
aa
D b E
JKL Ais a triangle.A b b B DB b E

!" = ! and !" = !

JJ 3 L KK ZZ
!" = !"
4
Find, in terms c
a of a and c L
L
(i) !"
(ii) !" c c
a
J a K Z
(iii) !"

Solution 6:J J KZ Z
K

15
D aa b E

[Link] Enjoy • Improve • Succeed

DD F b EE
Example
b7
Y C
a F
F
Diagram NOT
Y X Y Y
accurately drawn
a a a
D b E

Z A 3b B
DB D b E E
b is a triangle.
ABC
X is the midpoint of AC
ZZ Y is the midpoint of BC
!" = ! and !" = 3!
(a) Find, in terms of a and b
(i) !"

Z (ii) !"
(iii) !"
(iv) !"
KZ Z
(v) !"
!
(b) Use a vector method to show that XY is parallel to AB and that !" = ! !".

Solution 7:

16
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Example 8
The diagram shows a parallelogram WXYZ.
T is the midpoint of XZ
!
E is the point such that !" = ! !"

E
W X

p Diagram NOT
accurately drawn
T

Z q Y

!" = ! and !" = !

Find, in terms of p and q
(i) !"
(ii) !"
(iii) !"
(iv) !"
(v) !"
(b) Use a vector method to show that T bisects WY.

Solution 8:

17
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November
PRACTICE 2008 4H Question
QUESTIONS 5 19 Vector Diagrams: 4 M
1'#F'+
G.#&Q
[Link]% 0M'+2%#8(#$+*M-P*+#+5(#='k%,$+./67;

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A y D

BC = 2 AD .
AB = x. AD = y.

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 May 2013 4H Question 21 Vector Diagrams: 3 M
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 QUESTION
May 2006 4H Question 14 Vector Diagrams: 8 M
Enjoy • Improve • Succeed [Link]
blank
4.14. OABC is a parallelogram.

A B
Diagram NOT
accurately drawn
O C

→ §1· → § 4·
OA ¨ ¸ , OC ¨ ¸ .
© 2¹ ©0¹
→
(a) Find the vector OB as a column vector. § ·
¨ ¸
© ¹
............................
(1)
X is the point on OB such that OX = kOB, where 0 < k < 1

(b) Find, in terms of k, the vectors

→
(i) OX,
..................................................
→
(ii) AX,

..................................................
→
(iii) X C.

..................................................
(3)
→ →
(c) Find the value of k for which AX = X C.

...........................
(2)

(d) Use your answer to part (c) to show that the diagonals of the parallelogram OABC
bisect one another.

.......................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................
(2) Q14

(Total 8 marks)

12 21
*N24647A01216*
 May 2007 3H Question 16 Vector Diagrams: 5 M
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[Link]! -./!$%!+!,2$+.8)19
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 January 2016 3HR Question 19 Vector Diagrams: 6 M
Enjoy • Improve • Succeed [Link]
6.19 The diagram shows a grid of equally spaced parallel lines.
The point P and the vectors a and b are shown on the grid.

DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA

b

DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA

P
a

PQ = 3a + 4b
(a) On the grid, mark the vector PQ
(1)
PR = B4a + 2b
(b) On the grid, mark the vector PR
(1)
(c) Find, in terms of a and b, the vector QR

DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA

QR = ........................................................
(1)

22 23
*P46916A02224*
2
The point M lies on PR such that PM = PR
 May 2005 4H Question 16
[Link] Enjoy • ImproveVector Diagrams:
• Succeed
Leave
5M
blank
7.16. PQR is a triangle.
M and N are the midpoints of PQ and PR respectively.

P
a b Diagram NOT
accurately drawn
M N

Q R
o o
PM = a PN = b.

(a) Find, in terms of a and/or b,

o
(i) MN

..........................
o
(ii) PQ

..........................
o
(iii) QR

..........................
(3)

(b) Use your answers to (a)(i) and (iii) to write down two geometrical facts about the
lines MN and QR.

.......................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................
(2) Q16

(Total 5 marks)

24
*N22125A01520*
15

Turn over
 May
Enjoy 2015 3HR
• Improve Question 18
• Succeed Vector Diagrams: 5 Marks
[Link]
8.18 Diagram NOT
Q
accurately drawn

W
X
a

P b R Y

PQR is a triangle.
The midpoint of PQ is W.
X is the point on QR such that QX : XR = 2 : 1
PRY is a straight line.
PW = a PR = b
(a) Find, in terms of a and b,
(i) QR

...............................................................

(ii) QX

...............................................................

(iii) WX

...............................................................

(3)
R is the midpoint of the straight line PRY.
(b) Use a vector method to show that WXY is a straight line.

(2)

(Total for Question 18 is 5 marks)

18
*P44392A01824*
25
 January 2013 3H Question 20 Vector Diagrams: 5 Mar
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9.20 The diagram shows a parallelogram, PQRS.
M is the midpoint of PS. Diagram NOT
PM = a PQ = b accurately drawn

P b Q
a
M

S R
(a) Find, in terms of a and/or b,
(i) PS

..............................................................

(ii) PR

..............................................................

(iii) MQ

..............................................................

(3)
1
N is the point on MQ such that MN = MQ
3
(b) Use a vector method to prove that PNR is a straight line.

(2)

(Total for Question 20 is 5 marks)

18
*P41038A01820*
26