Maths HL
Vector Notes
Scalar or Dot Product
a1
a . b a2
a3
b1
. b2 a
b3
cos .
For perpendicular vectors the scalar product is 0.
To show that two lines are perpendicular use the Dot product with line direction vectors.
To show that two planes are perpendicular use the dot product on their normal vectors.
The Vector or Cross Product
The VECTOR PRODUCT of a b is defined as a vector perpendicular to both a and b , and
of magnitude (absin) in a direction given by the RIGHT HAND SCREW RULE.
b
b
a
Thumb is FIRST NAMED VECTOR,
First Finger is SECOND NAMED VECTOR,
Second Finger is DIRECTION OF a b .
Vector product is not commutative since a x b = - b x a not b x a .
The perpendicular vector (usually written as n) is given by the determinant x1
y1
y2
z1
z 2
x
2
Using the vector product is the best way to find a perpendicular vector to two other given vectors.
a 5i 2 j k
Example: Given that
i
5
1
j
2
1
k
1
3
and
=
b i j 3k
then a b is given by:
i (5) j ( 16) k ( 7 ) 5i 16 j 7 k
Note that the unit vector in this direction is
5
1
16 , or, more usefully later on :
330
ab
The unit vector n = a b .
The angle between these two vectors will be obtained from: a b = ab sin
where a b = 5i 16 j 7 k = 330 and
a = 30 and b 11
330
1.
30 11
giving sin =
Hence the angle between them is 90.
Vector Equation of a Line
r ( ai b j ck ) ( i j k )
gen. pt. on line.
posn vector of pt
on line.
direction of line.
Cartesian Equation of a Line
xa
yb zc
ie
x = a + and y = b + and z = c +
Equation of a Plane, :
1
1
x + 2y + 3z =p is equivalent to r 2 p where r is any general point in the plane, 2 is the
3
3
normal to the plane and p is a constant obtained from the scalar product of the position vector of a
point in the plane and the normal.
ie. r.n = a.n
Alternatively the equation of the plane can be written in terms of two vectors in the plane and a
point in the plane : ie r ( ai b j ck ) u v .
Distance between Points
1
4
3
Example: OP = 2 and OQ = 4 . Therefore PQ = 2
3
8
5
PQ
32 2 2 5 2 =
38
Shortest Distance between a Point and a Line
Example: L1 =
1
2
3 3
1
2
and point (1,2,3).
L1
(1,2,3)
2
1 2
OQ = 3 3 and therefore PQ = PO + OQ = 1 3 . Now PQ is perpendicular to the line
1 2
2 2
2 2
and so 1 3 . 3 = 0 which gives 4 + 3 + 9 - 4 + 4 = 0. Therefore, 17 = 1.
2 2 2
Find and then PQ and then PQ .
Intersecting Lines
Example:
1
4
r1 = 2 5
3
6
1
2
and r2 = 2 0
1
3
Are the lines
the same?.check by inspection
parallel?check by inspection
skew or do they have one point in common? If the lines meet at one point then solving r1 = r2 will give
3 equations in and . You need values of and which satisfy all three equations. Solve two of the
equations for and and if the values of and do not satisfy the third equation then the lines are
skew, and they do not intersect. If these values do satisfy the three equations then substitute the value
of or into the appropriate line and find the point of intersection.
Lines which meet at a point will be coplanar.
Intersection of a Line and a Plane
Example:
L1:
1
4
r = 2 5
1
6
1:
1
r 2 5
3
First check that the line is not contained in the plane, nor parallel to it.
4 1
i.e. 5 2 32 , therefore the line and the plane are not parallel and the line will intersect the
6 3
plane in one point.
Substitute the line equation into the plane equation to obtain the value of the line parameter, .
Substitute for into the equation of the line to obtain the co-ordinates of the point of intersection.
1 4 1
i.e. Solve 2 5 2 5
1 6 3
1 + 4 - 4+10 -3 + 18 = 5. Solve for and substitute into the
equation of the line to get the point of intersection. If this equation gives you something like 0 =
5, then the line will be parallel and not in the plane, and if the equation gives you something like 5
= 5 then the line is contained in the plane.
Intersection of Two Planes and the Equation of the Line of Intersection
Solve between the two plane equations in terms of a parameter say, t,
Example:
1:
1
r 2 5
3
and
2: r 2 2
2
First, check by inspection, that the planes are not parallel. Rewrite each equation in Cartesian form.
We get x + 2y + 3z = 5 and 2x - 2y 2z = 2.
Now write x as a function of y and z such that (by adding)
7z
8 y
x=
, and from eq1 x 2 and eq2 x 3, we get x =
.
3
4
This gives t = x =
8 y 7 z
=
which is the equation of the common line, which in vector form is
4
3
0
1
r = 8 t 4 . (Equally you can write t = y as a function of x and z, or t = z as a function of x and y).
7
3
OR Find the vector product of both normals to give the direction of the line. Then you need a point
on the line
Areas and Cross Products
Area of Parallelogram:
base x height
= AD h
But h = AB sin
So, area = AD AB
1
base x height
2
(b) Area of Triangle:
=
But h =
D
B
1
AC h
2
AB sin
h
A
1
AC AB sin
=
2
1
= AC AB .
2
Note:
(a) To calculate a b . c you must calculate the cross product FIRST. Since
this gives a vector answer. Calculating the dot product first gives a scalar answer
leaving you with a cross product between a vector and a scalar !!!!!!!!!
(b) To Simplify a b . a . The argument goes: the cross product gives a
vector to the plane of aand b . Hence it must be to a . dot product of
vectors = 0.
(c)
ab
ab sin
= a b sin
2 2
2
= a b 1 cos
= a 2b 2 a 2b 2 cos2
2
2
2
= a b a .b .
2
