GCSE Maths – Geometry and Measures

Vector Operations
Notes

WORKSHEET

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Vector Operations

Representation of Vectors

A vector is defined as having both a magnitude (size) and direction. It can be used to
connect two different points in space.

The vector connecting the origin, denoted O, to point A is denoted �����⃗

𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂, 𝑎𝑎⃗ or 𝒂𝒂 . However,
when writing, to indicate the bold vector, we underline the vector instead as such: 𝑎𝑎 . This
vector tells us how to get from the origin to point A.

Diagrammatically, vectors are represented using a line with an arrow connecting two points.
Below is an example of vector 𝑎𝑎⃗ when point A is (1,2).

Column vector notation

Instead of traditional (𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦) notation that we use for describing points, we use column vector
notation for describing vectors: �𝑦𝑦𝑥𝑥� .

• The 𝒙𝒙-value tells us how many units to move in the 𝑥𝑥 direction.

• The 𝒚𝒚-value tells us how many units to move in the 𝑦𝑦 direction.

If either value 𝑥𝑥 or 𝑦𝑦 is negative, we move in the negative 𝑥𝑥 or 𝑦𝑦 direction, respectively.

The vector 𝑎𝑎⃗ above is represented in column notation as �12� .

This tells us to move 1 unit in the positive 𝑥𝑥 direction and 2 units in the positive 𝑦𝑦 direction.

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Since vectors do not specify a starting point, the vector that takes us from the point (2,1) to
(3,4) is the same vector as the one that takes us from (0,0) to (1,3) as both vectors are
represented as �13�. Diagrammatically, this is like shifting the starting position of the
vector from (2,1) to (0,0).

Connecting Two Points with a Vector

If we have a point A and a point B, we can connect the two points using a vector denoted
������⃗
𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨 which tells us how to get from point A to point B.

If point A is (1,1) and point B is (2,3) then we need to move 1 unit right in the x-coordinate
direction and 2 units up in the y-coordinate direction to get from A to B.
So,
������⃗ = �1�.
𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨 2

This is represented diagrammatically below.

Adding and Subtracting Vectors Diagrammatically

Vectors can be added and subtracted diagrammatically. To add a vector, we follow it

along the vector arrow from start to finish. To subtract a vector, we go backwards on the
vector arrow.

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 �����⃗ then we would end up at point B. But if
So, if we were at point A and applied the vector 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴
we were at point B and applied the negative vector −𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 �����⃗ then we would go backwards on
the vector arrow �����⃗
𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 and end up at point A.

Using this information, we can prove that the vector �����⃗

𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 can also be expressed as

�����⃗ − 𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂
𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂 �����⃗.

To see why, let’s look at the diagram below.

To get from A to B, we could go straight from A to B resulting in the vector �����⃗

𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴.
�����⃗ �����⃗
However, we could also go from A to O and then O to B resulting in 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 + 𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂.

𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂 = �11�, then

To get from A to O is the exact opposite of getting from O to A. If �����⃗
𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 = −�1� = �−1� which is the same as negative 𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂
�����⃗
1 −1
�����⃗ . Therefore, we can write

�����⃗ �����⃗.
𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 = −𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂
So,
�����⃗ + �����⃗
𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 �����⃗ + 𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂
𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂 = −𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂 �����⃗ .
This means that,
�����⃗ = 𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂
𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 �����⃗ − 𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂
�����⃗.

Rewriting vectors like this can be very useful for solving problems.

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Adding and Subtracting Vectors in Column Notation
To add and subtract vectors in column vector notation, we add each of the coordinate
rows.

Suppose we had vector 𝒂𝒂 = �𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑥𝑥 � and vector 𝒃𝒃 = �𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑥𝑥 � then 𝒂𝒂 + 𝒃𝒃 = �𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑥𝑥 ++𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑥𝑥 �.
𝑦𝑦 𝑦𝑦 𝑦𝑦 𝑦𝑦

Similarly, for subtraction, 𝒂𝒂 – 𝒃𝒃 = �𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑥𝑥 −−𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑥𝑥 �.

𝑦𝑦 𝑦𝑦

5
Example: Find 𝒂𝒂 + 𝒃𝒃 if 𝒂𝒂 = �−2�, 𝒃𝒃 = �−3
0
�

1. Write 𝒂𝒂 + 𝒃𝒃 as one column vector by adding each of the rows.

5 −3 5 + −3
𝒂𝒂 + 𝒃𝒃 = � �+� �=� �
−2 0 −2 + 0

2. Sum each row and calculate the total.

5 + −3 = 2
−2 + 0 = −2

5 + −3 2
𝒂𝒂 + 𝒃𝒃 = � �=� �
−2 + 0 −2

Multiplying Vectors by a Scalar

A scalar is a numerical value that has a magnitude (a size) but no direction. For example,
3
the values 2, 5, −3, 0, are all scalars.
4

To multiply a vector by a scalar, we separately multiply each row of the vector by the
scalar.

Suppose we had vector 𝒂𝒂 = �𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑥𝑥 � and we multiplied it by the scalar 𝑘𝑘:

𝑦𝑦

𝑎𝑎𝑥𝑥 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑥𝑥
𝑘𝑘𝒂𝒂 = 𝑘𝑘 � � = � �
𝑎𝑎𝑦𝑦 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑦𝑦

Example: What is vector 𝒃𝒃 if 𝒃𝒃 = 3𝒂𝒂 and 𝒂𝒂 = �−2

5 �?

1. Multiply each row of vector 𝒂𝒂 by the scalar 3.

−2 3(−2)
3𝒂𝒂 = 3 � �= � �
5 3(5)

2. Calculate each new value and write the new vector 𝒃𝒃.

3 × −2 = −6
3 × 5 = 15

3(−2) −6
𝒃𝒃 = � �= � �
3(5) 15

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Diagrammatic Effect of Multiplying by a Scalar

Multiplying a vector by scalar has different effects on the diagrammatic representation of

the vector, depending on the scalar it is multiplied by.

If the vector is multiplied by a positive scalar 𝑘𝑘 that is more than 1 (𝑘𝑘 > 1), then the vector
is elongated (stretched) by that factor. Below is an example of a vector 𝑎𝑎⃗ = �11� being
multiplied by 2 to become vector 𝑏𝑏�⃗ = �2�.2

However, if the vector is multiplied by a positive scalar 𝑘𝑘 that is less than 1 (0 < 𝑘𝑘 < 1) ,
then the vector becomes squashed and shrinks by that factor.

1
Below is an example of a vector 𝑎𝑎⃗ = �11� being multiplied by to become vector 𝑏𝑏�⃗ = �0.5
0.5
�.
2

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Lastly, if a vector is multiplied by negative scalar 𝑘𝑘, then the vector changes to the
opposite direction.

Similar to the positive case, if the negative scalar 𝑘𝑘 is less than −1 (𝑘𝑘 < −1) then the vector
elongates. If the negative scalar 𝑘𝑘 is greater than −1 (−1 < 𝑘𝑘 < 0) then the vector shrinks.

Below is an example of a vector 𝑎𝑎⃗ = �11� being multiplied by −2 to become vector 𝑏𝑏�⃗ = �−2
−2
�.
Notice how the arrow is pointing in the opposite direction.

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 Vector Operations – Practice Questions

1. Given the vectors 𝒂𝒂 = �14� 𝒃𝒃 = �−3

6
� 𝒄𝒄 = �−1
−2
�

Write the following expressions as a single column vector.

a) a + b

b) 3a – 2c

c) 4a – b + 2a

2. Let 𝒂𝒂 = �16� 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝒃𝒃 = �−2

3
�

Write the following as column vectors

a) a – b

b) 4a + 2b

3. Three vectors are listed below with some missing values

𝒂𝒂 = �32� 𝒃𝒃 = �𝑑𝑑𝑒𝑒� 𝒄𝒄 = �𝑓𝑓1�

Use the following equations to find the value of d, e and f:

3
𝒂𝒂 + 𝒃𝒃 = � �
0
2
𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐 + 𝒃𝒃 = � �
2

Worked solutions for the practice questions can be found amongst the worked solutions for the
corresponding worksheet file.

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