Vectors

A vector describes a movement with both size and direction - like giving walking directions as "3 blocks east, 2 blocks north" instead of just a distance. This topic covers vector notation, addition, and magnitude.

  • Vector notation and column vectors
  • Adding and subtracting vectors
  • Magnitude of a vector

Lessons for Vectors

Vector Notation and Column Vectors

Describing a movementA vector is written as a column: (x on top, y on bottom), showing how far to move …

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Adding and Subtracting Vectors

Combining journeysAdding vectors is like walking one route then another - add up the "across" parts and the "up" parts …

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Magnitude of a Vector

How far did you actually move?The magnitude is the straight-line distance the vector covers - just like using Pythagoras' theorem …

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Exercises for Vectors

Write column vectors

Find the vector from A(2,3) to B(6,8).Find the vector from P(-1,4) to Q(3,-2).Given vector a = (5,-2), write down -a.

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Add, subtract and scale vectors

Given a = (4,-1) and b = (2,3), find a + b.Find a - b.Find 3a.Find 2a + b.

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Find the magnitude

Find the magnitude of (6,8).Find the magnitude of (5,12).A vector has magnitude 13 and one component is 5. Find the …

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