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Basic Vector Geometry

Recommended Texts and webs:

- Shanti Narayan, A text book of Vector Analysis, ISBN 81-219-2243-7, S Chand & company Ltd.
New Delhi
- Murray J Spiegel, Vector Analysis, ISBN 07-060228-X
- http://mathforum.org/~klotz/Vectors/vectors.html
- emweb.unl.edu/Math/mathweb/vectors/vectors.html

Vector: If both magnitude and direction are required to describe a certain quantity,
that quantity is called a vector.

Ex: Velocity, Force, Acceleration etc.

Scalar: Scalar quantities are quantities which require only the magnitude to describe
it.

Ex: Distance

Representing a vector

A vector is represented by a line segment whose direction is indicated by an arrow.

Ex:

Direction of the vector is parallel to the line segment and magnitude of the vector is
equal to that of line segment
We write it as AB

If the direction is in the other way we write it as BA

Vectors are also denoted by d c b a , , , .etc.

Null vector (Zero vector)

If A and B of the vector AB are coincident with each other, then the vector AB is
called a null vector.

Position vector

Position vectors represent the position of a point with respect to another fixed point.

Ex: Position of the point A with respect to a fixed point O is A's position vector and it
is denoted byOA. Usually position vectors are denoted as follows.

c OC b OB a OA = = = , , etc.

B A
2
Unit vector

If the magnitude of a vector is equal to 1, then it is called a unit vector.

Unit vector can be obtained by dividing the vector by its magnitude.
i.e.
AB
AB
is a unit vector
Let be a scalar and a be a vector. Then,

- a is a vector
- If 0 > then a has the same direction as a
- If 0 < , then a has the direction opposite to a


Addition of Vectors

If two vectors are represented by two adjacent sides of a parallelogram, then the
resultant vector is given by the diagonal through the point of intersection of those
adjacent sides













OC b a
AC OB OC OB OA
OC AC OA
= +
= = +
= +


Result










a
b
A
B C
O
b a +
a
b
A
B C
O
3

The following rules are true for vector addition

- Commutative Law a b b a + = +
- Associate Law c b a c b a + + = + + ) ( ) (
- Distributive Law b a b a o o o + = + ) (


Now,

a b
b a
OB AO AB
=
+ =
+ =



Therefore the difference between two vectors is given by the other diagonal of the
parallelogram.

Example (1) : Prove the triangle mid point theorem using vectors.

Theorem: The line segment connecting the midpoints of two sides of a triangle is
parallel to the third side and is congruent to half of the third side.



Given: AB AD
2
1
= and AC AE
2
1
=
We have to prove that,

BC DE
2
1
=




Proof:

BC
AC BA
AC BA
AE DA DE
2
1
) (
2
1
2
1
2
1
=
+ =
+ =
+ =


Example (2): Using vectors show that the diagonals of a parallelogram bisect each
other.

a b
b a +
a
b
A
B C
O
D E
A
B
C
4


Given AC AD AB and BC AD DC AB = + = = ,
We have to prove that the mid point of AC and
the mid point of BD are coincident.




Proof:
Let the mid point of AC =P and the mid point BD=Q.

Then,

) 2 ( ) (
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
) (
2
1
2
1
) 1 ( ) (
2
1
2
1
AD AB AQ
AD BA
AD BA BA AQ
AD BA AQ BA
BD BQ
AD AB AP
AC AP
+ =
+ =
+ + =
+ = +
=
+ =
=


By (1) and (2) we have Q P

Diagonals of a parallelogram bisect each other


Let a and b be two vectors acting alone two adjacent sides, and o &| be two
scalars. Consider the equation,
0 = + b a | o (1)

We know that b a =
b a | o =

Also, 0 = a and 0 = b

Therefore the only way of satisfying the equation (1) is,

A
B
C D
5
0 = o and 0 = |


Example (1) : Find the ratio of intersection of diagonals of a parallelogram.





Let the mid point of AC =P and the mid point BD=Q.

Then let AC x AP = (we have to find x)

Then,

) (
) (
BC AB x BD y AB
BC AB x BP AB
AC x AP
+ = +
+ = +
=

(Here y is also to be found).

Now,

0 ) ( ) 1 (
) ( ) (
= +
+ = + +
AD x y AB x y
AD AB x AD BA y AB


This equation is in the form of 0 = + b a | o

Here AB is not parallel to AD. Also 0 0 = = AD and AB

Therefore the only way to satisfy this equation is,

0 0 1 = = x y and x y
Solving these two equations simultaneously we get
2
1
2
1
= = y and x
Therefore diagonals of a parallelogram bisect each other.




Ratio Theorem


Let b OB and a OA = =





B
A
B
C D
m
n
O
A
C a
b
c
6


If a point C divides a line segment AB internally in the ratio m : n, then,



n m
b n a m
OC
+
+
=


If C divides AB externally then,




n m
b n a m
OC
+

=






Example: OACB is a parallelogram. b OB and a OA = = . Find the ratio of
intersection of diagonals.

Let the ratios are 1 : 1 : and




Let p OP =





Considering AB,

+
+
=
1
a b
p
Considering OC,

+
=
1
c
p








O
A
C B


1
1
P
0
1
1
1 1 1
1
) (
1
1 1
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
+

+
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
+

+
+
+
=
+
+
+
=
+
+

b a
b a a b
c a b

B
m
n
O
A
a
b
C
c
7

This is in the form of 0 = + b a | o






So we have,

) 2 (
1
1
1
) 1 (
1 1

+
=
+
+
=
+


By solving (1) and (2) we get 1 1 = = and

Therefore diagonals of a parallelogram bisect each other