Vectors

• Any physical quantity which requires

magnitude as well as direction for it complete
description is called as vector quantity
• Vectors are usually denoted by AB,PQ,a,b etc
B
A a
 Vectors
• Any physical quantity which requires
magnitude as well as direction for it complete
description is called as vector quantity
• Vectors are usually denoted by AB,PQ,a,b etc
B
A AB a
• Magnitude of a vector :- Magnitude of a
vector is the length of of the vector.
• Unit vector :- Unit vector is a vector with
magnitude 1 (one)
• Collinear vectors :- AB = k PQ then AB and PQ
are collinear vectors OR a = k b
• Coplaner vectors :- If a = m b + n c then a , b
& c are coplaner vectors
 Position vector (p.v.) of a point (a1,a2,a3)
• Unit vectors along x,y and z axes :- i ,j and k
represent uint vectors along x, y, and z axes.
• Position vector (p.v.) of a point (a1,a2,a3) = a1 i +a2 j + a3 k
• Magnitude of vector a1 i +a2 j + a3 k = √ a12 + a22 + a32
• Unit vector along a1 i + a2 j + a3 k = Vector = a1 i + a2 j + a3 k
• Magnitude √ a12 + a22 + a32

• AB = b - a
• Scalar product OR Dot product :- If
• a = a1 i + a2 j + a3 k and b = b1 i + b2 j + b3 k
then a ○ b = a1 b1 + a2 b2 + a3 b3
OR
• a ○ b = a b cos ϴ
where ϴ is the angle between the vectors
• Cos ϴ = a ○ b
• ab
• If a ○ b = 0 then a is perpandicular to b
• Projection of a on b = a ○ b
b
• Vector product OR Cross product
• a x b = a b sin ϴ n
• OR
i j k
• a x b = a1 a2 a3
b1 b2 b3
• Sin ϴ = I a x b I
• a b
• Area of a parellogram with adjecant side a and b
= I axb I
• Area of a parellogram with diagonal c and d =

1/2 I c x d I
• Area of triangle with adjecant side a and b =
1/2 I a x b I
• Unit vector perpandicular to the plane of a
and b = a x b
IaxbI
• Vector of magnitude k perpandicular to the

plane of a and b = k a x b
IaxbI
• Work done = AB ○ F
Where AB = displacement from A to B ,
F = Force
●Moment of force F about A acting at B = AB x F
• If point C is the mid point of segment AB then
c=a+b
2
• If point G is the centroid of triangle ABC then
• g=a+b+c
3
Triangle law of addition of vectors
Consider 2 vectors AB and CD as follows
D

Let AB = a
and CD = b
A B

C
We can form a triangle using these vectors as
follows

a+
b
b Then a + b represent the
vector given by third side
a
Parallelogram law of addition of vectors
If a and b represent adjecant sides of a
parallelogram then a + b is represented by the
diagonal passing to their point of intersection.

a a+ b

b
1. Find cosine of angle between the vectors
2 i – 3 j + 4k and -4 i + 6 j – 8 k
2. Find the value of ( a x b ) x c if a = 3i – j +2k
b = 2i + j – k and c = i – 2j + 2k
3. Find moment of force 4i + 2j + k acting at the
point (5,2,4) about the point (3,-1,3)
4. Find the vector of magnitude 19 which is
perpandicular to both the vectors 4i – j + 8k
and –j + k [J7]
4.Find the vector of magnitude 19 which is
perpandicular to both the vectors 4i – j + 8k
and –j + k [J7]
Soln i j k
a x b = 4 -1 8 =i(-1-(-8))-j(4-0)+k(-4-0)
0 -1 1 = 7i -4j-4k
I a x b I = √ 72 + (-4)2 + (-4)2 = √ 81 = 9
Required Vector = 19/9 [ 7i -4j -4k ]
5.Find a so that the 2 vectors i +(2a-1)j +3k and
-3i + 2j – ak are perpendicular. [D7]

Soln Since the given vectors are

a ○ b = 0 → a1b1 + a2b2 + a3b3 = 0
→ 1x-3 + (2a-1)x2 + 3x-a = 0
→ -3 +4a -2 -3a = 0
→ a–5=0 → a=5
6. Forces 2i -5j + 6k , -i +2j – k , 2i + 7j act on a particle
whose p.v. is 4i - 3j -2k.Determine the work done by the
forces in displacing the particle to the point Q(6,1,-3)

Soln F = (2i -5j + 6k) + (-i +2j – k) + (2i + 7j)

= 3i + 4j +5k
PQ = q – p
=(6i +j -3k) – (4i -3j -2k)
= 2i +4j –k
Work done = PQ ○ F
= 2x3 + 4x4 + -1x5
= 6 +16 - 5
= 17 unit.
• 7. Show that the points with p.v. given below are
coplanar: a= 2i –j +k, b= i +2j –3k,c= 3i–4j +5k
Soln Consider
2 -1 1
1 2 -3 = 2(10-12)+1(5+9)+1(-4-6)
3 -4 5
= -4 + 14 -10
= 0
Since the above determinent is zero
The given points are coplaner.
 9.If the vertices of the triangle are (2,-1,1),
(1,-3,-5)&(4,1,0) prove by vector method that it
is a right angled triangle.
Soln Let A = (2,-1,1), B = (1,-3,-5) & C = (4,1,0)
AB = b – a = (1-2)i +(-3+1)j + (-5-1)k = -i-2j-6k
BC = c – b = (4-1)i +(1+3)j +(0+5)k = 3i+4j+5k
AC = c – a = (4-2)i+(1+1)j+(0-1)k = 2i+2j-k
Now AB ○ AC = (-1x2)+(-2x2)+(-6x-1)
= -2-4+6 = 0
Triangle ABC is right angled at A
10.ABCD isa a parellogram A,B,C have the co-ordinates
(2,3)(1,4)&(0,-2).Find the co-ordinate of D. [J9]

For perellogram ABCD AB = DC

Let D = (x,y)
Find AB & DC
Equate AB = DC
We will get the coordinates of D
11.a is a vector whose tip is (1,-3).Determine the
coordinates of the point Q such that PQ= a, if
point P has coordinates (-1,5) [J9]
Soln a = i -3j and P = (-1,5)
Let Q =(x,y)
Given PQ = a → q – p = a
(x+1)i+(y-5)j = i -3j
x +1 = 1 , y -5 = -3
x = 1-1 , y = -3 +5
x=0,y=2
Coordinates of Q = (0,2)
12.Find the vector in the direction of vector
3i +2j – 4k which has magnitude of 7 unit.
 14.Given R1 =5i – 2j +4k & R2 = i+ 3j +7k,find the
magnitudes and the angle between the vectors R1 + R2
and 2R1 – R2 [J10]

Wehave to find cosϴ = (R1 + R2) ○ (2R1-R2)

I R1 + R2 I I 2R1 – R2 I
15. If i + j +k,2i + 5j, 3i +2j – 3k and i – 6j –k are the p.v. of
point A,B,C and D respectively find the angle between AB
and CD. Deduce that AB and CD are collinear.
16.Find the area of the perellogram whose sides
are given by the vectors a= 3i+j+4k and b= i-j+k
 17. By vector method find the area of the
triangle whose vertices are (3,-1,2),(1,-1,3) and
(4,-3,1)

Find AB & AC
Find = AB x AC
Area of triangle = ½ I AB x AC I
18)Show that each of the given 3 vectors is a unit
vector 1/7(2i+3j+6k), 1/7(3i-6j+2k), 1/7(6i+2j-3k)
Also show that they are mutually perpendicular to
each other.

For unit vector

Show that each of their magnitude is 1
For mutually perpendicular
Show that each of their dot products is zero
i.e. aob=0 , boc=0 & aoc=0
19)Find I a I & I b I if (a+b)(a-b)=8 and I a I = 8I b I.
Soln Given I a I = 8I b I
a2 = 64b2
Also given (a+b)(a-b) = 8 → a2 - b2 = 8
Combining 64b2 – b2 = 8
63b2 = 8
b = 2√2/ √63
I a I = 8I b I
a = 16 √2/ √63
20)Find the constant λ so that the vectors a = 2i-j+k,
b = i+2j-3k and c = 3i+λj+5k are coplaner.
Soln Since the vectors are coplaner
2 -1 1
1 2 -3 = 0
3 λ 5
2(10+3λ)+1(5+9)+1(λ-6) = 0
7λ + 28 = 0
λ = -28/7
= -4
21)Find the angle betn the vectors i+j+k, 2i+4j+5k.

First find a o b
Find magnitude of a & b
Angle θ = cos-1 ( a o b / a b)
22)Show that the 3 points with p.v. 2i+3j, 3i+(9/4)j
and 5i+(3/4)j are collinear.
Soln Let a = 2i+3j , b = 3i+(9/4)j , c = 5i+(3/4)j
AB = b – a = i – (3/4)j
BC = c – b = 2i – (6/4)j
= 2[ i – (3/4)j]
= 2 AB
BC is the scalar multiple of AB with common point B
→ A, B, C are collinear points.
23)Find the values of a for which the vectors
3i+2j+9k, i+aj+3k are i)perpendicular ii)parallel.
Soln i) since the vectors are perpendicular ,
their dot product is zero
→ (3)(1)+(2)(a)+(9)(3) = 0
2a + 30 = 0
a = -15
ii) since the vectors are parpllel ,
One is scalar multiple of the other
3i+2j+9k = 3(i+aj+3k) → 2 = 3a → a = 2/3
24)

Find A x B

Find I A x B I

Unit vector normal to A & B = ( A x B ) / I A x B I

Unit vector normal to A & B = ( 10j + 5k ) / (5 root(5))

Unit vector normal to A & B = ( 2j + k ) / ( root(5))

25

A x B = i -10j – 18k

A.B=4

Unit vector perpendicular to A & B = ( i - 10j - 18k ) / (5 root(17))

cosA = 4/21
26)

Vector area = ½ (AB x AC) = ½ ( i + 5j – k )

Area = ½ IAB x ACI = ½ ( 3 root(3) ) square unit

27)
28)
29)
30) What is the geometrical significant of
la+bl=la–bl

Square both sides

You will get 4 a o b = 0
→ a is perpendicular to b
31) Prove that i) l a + b l ≤ l a l + l b l
ii) l a l – l b l ≤ l a – b l
Soln Let a = AB and b = BC
i) We consider 2 cases . Point A,B,C are
Collinear Non collinear
A a B b C C
a+b b
AC = AB + BC
la+bl = lal + lbl A a B

AC < AB + BC
Combining both cases la+bl < lal + lbl

la+bl ≤ lal + lbl

ii) a=a–b+b
lal=la–b+bl
lal≤la–bl+lbl { from i) }
lal–lbl ≤ la-bl

Note :We can also show this by squaring both sides

both (i) & (ii)