2. What is a Vector?
A vector is a directed line segment. This means it has magnitude and direction.
Magnitude is another word for length.
Check out the vector below. It starts at the INITIAL POINT, P, and ends at the
TERMINAL POINT, Q. Vectors are often written in bold. We could call this
vector, b.
P
Q
b =
3. Magnitude (length) of
a vector can be found
using the
pythagorean therom!
Formula:
Example: If P is at (-2,4) and Q is at
(3,-1), find the magnitude of PQ.
This symbol means MAGNITUDE
4. Component
Form of a Vector
● has the symbols <a , b>
● and is the vectors horizontal
and vertical distance in the
coordinate plane.
A
A = < 4, 2>
5. Vectors can be ADDED and SUBTRACTED!
If A = <2 , -4> and B = < -1, 5>,
find A + B.
A+B = <2+-1, -4 +5>
A + B = <1, 1>
If A = <2 , -4> and B = < -1, 5>,
find A -3B.
3B = < -3, 15>
A - 3B = <2-(-3), -4- 15>
A - 3B = <5, -19>