Basic Vector Operations

Introduction
A vector is a quantity that has both magnitude (size) and direction. Vectors
can be represented in 2D or 3D space, and you can perform various operations
on them.

Addition of Two Vectors

The addition of two vectors A and B is done component-wise. If A = ⟨Ax , Ay , Az ⟩
and B = ⟨Bx , By , Bz ⟩, then the sum of the two vectors C = A + B is given by:

C = A + B = ⟨Ax + Bx , Ay + By , Az + Bz ⟩
That is, the corresponding components of the vectors are added together to
form the resulting vector.
Example:
Let A = ⟨3, 2, 1⟩ and B = ⟨4, −1, 2⟩.
The sum of A and B is:

C = A + B = ⟨3 + 4, 2 + (−1), 1 + 2⟩
Simplifying the components:

C = ⟨7, 1, 3⟩
Thus, the sum of A and B is C = ⟨7, 1, 3⟩.

Geometric Interpretation of Vector Addition

Vector addition can also be visualized geometrically using the ”tip-to-tail” method.
This method involves placing the tail of the second vector at the tip of the first
vector. The resulting vector is the vector drawn from the tail of the first vector
to the tip of the second vector. This method works in both 2D and 3D spaces.
Illustration:
Imagine you are walking in two directions.

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Subtraction of Two Vectors
The subtraction of two vectors A and B is done component-wise. If A =
⟨Ax , Ay , Az ⟩ and B = ⟨Bx , By , Bz ⟩, then the difference of the two vectors C =
A − B is given by:

C = A − B = ⟨Ax − Bx , Ay − By , Az − Bz ⟩
That is, the corresponding components of the vectors are subtracted to form
the resulting vector.
Example:
Let A = ⟨3, 2, 1⟩ and B = ⟨4, −1, 2⟩.
The difference of A and B is:

C = A − B = ⟨3 − 4, 2 − (−1), 1 − 2⟩
Simplifying the components:

C = ⟨−1, 3, −1⟩
Thus, the difference of A and B is C = ⟨−1, 3, −1⟩.

Geometric Interpretation of Vector Subtraction

Vector subtraction can also be visualized geometrically. The vector A − B
represents the vector from the tip of B to the tip of A, or equivalently, the
negative of B added to A.
Illustration:

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 To subtract vectors

3. Scalar Multiplication
Scalar multiplication involves multiplying a vector by a scalar (a real number).
This scales the vector’s magnitude but keeps its direction the same.
If k is a scalar, and A = ⟨Ax , Ay ⟩, then:

kA = ⟨kAx , kAy ⟩
For 3D:

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 kA = ⟨kAx , kAy , kAz ⟩
Illustration:
If you multiply a vector by a scalar k, it stretches or shrinks. For example,
multiplying by 2 doubles the vector’s length, and multiplying by -1 reverses its
direction.

4. Dot Product of Two Vectors

The dot product (also called the scalar product) of two vectors A and B is
a scalar value, calculated as the sum of the products of their corresponding
components.
For two vectors A = ⟨Ax , Ay , Az ⟩ and B = ⟨Bx , By , Bz ⟩, the dot product is
given by:

A · B = Ax Bx + Ay By + Az Bz
Example:
Let A = ⟨1, 2, 3⟩ and B = ⟨4, −5, 6⟩.
The dot product is calculated as:

A · B = (1)(4) + (2)(−5) + (3)(6)

Simplifying the terms:

A · B = 4 + (−10) + 18

A · B = 4 − 10 + 18 = 12
Thus, the dot product of A and B is A · B = 12.

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Properties of the Dot Product
1. Commutative Property:
A·B=B·A
2. Distributive Property:

A · (B + C) = A · B + A · C

3. Scalar Multiplication:

(kA) · B = k(A · B)

where k is a scalar.
4. Geometric Interpretation: The dot product can also be expressed as:

A · B = |A||B| cos θ

where θ is the angle between the vectors A and B, and |A| and |B| are the
magnitudes of the vectors.
Illustration:
If you imagine two vectors A and B, the dot product measures how much
A projects onto B.

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Cross Product of Two Vectors
The cross product of two vectors A and B in 3D space is given by:

î ĵ k̂
A × B = Ax Ay Az
Bx By Bz

Where î, ĵ, k̂ are the unit vectors in the x, y, and z directions respectively,
and A = ⟨Ax , Ay , Az ⟩ and B = ⟨Bx , By , Bz ⟩ are the components of the vectors
A and B.
To compute the determinant, we expand it as follows:

Ay Az A Az A Ay
A × B = î − ĵ x + k̂ x
By Bz Bx Bz Bx By
This simplifies to:

A × B = î(Ay Bz − Az By ) − ĵ(Ax Bz − Az Bx ) + k̂(Ax By − Ay Bx )

Therefore, the cross product is:

A × B = ⟨Ay Bz − Az By , −(Ax Bz − Az Bx ), Ax By − Ay Bx ⟩

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 Example:
Let A = ⟨1, 2, 3⟩ and B = ⟨4, 5, 6⟩.
Now, apply the determinant method:

î ĵ k̂
A×B= 1 2 3
4 5 6
Expanding the determinant:

2 3 1 3 1 2
A × B = î − ĵ + k̂
5 6 4 6 4 5
Now, compute each 2x2 determinant:

A × B = î(2 × 6 − 3 × 5) − ĵ(1 × 6 − 3 × 4) + k̂(1 × 5 − 2 × 4)

A × B = î(12 − 15) − ĵ(6 − 12) + k̂(5 − 8)

A × B = î(−3) − ĵ(−6) + k̂(−3)

So, the cross product is:

A × B = ⟨−3, 6, −3⟩
Illustration:
If you take the cross product of two vectors, the result is a new vector that is
perpendicular to both A and B. The direction follows the right-hand rule (curl
your fingers from A to B, and your thumb points in the direction of A × B).

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Practice Exercises
1. Given vectors A = ⟨2, 3⟩ and B = ⟨4, 1⟩, compute A + B.
2. If A = ⟨1, −2, 3⟩ and B = ⟨4, 0, −1⟩, find A − B.
3. For A = ⟨1, 1⟩ and scalar k = 3, compute kA.
4. Find the dot product of A = ⟨1, 2⟩ and B = ⟨3, 4⟩.

5. Calculate the cross product of A = ⟨1, 2, 3⟩ and B = ⟨4, 5, 6⟩.

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