Chapter

VECTORS
7
Vectors:
A vector quantity is that possesses both magnitude and direction i.e. displacement,
velocity, weight, force etc.
Scalar:
A scalar quantity is that possesses only magnitude. It can be specified by a
number i.e. mass, time, density, length, volume etc.
Magnitude/Length/Norm/Modulus of a Vector:
The positive real number, which is measure of the length of the vector, is called
modulus, length, magnitude or norm of a vector.
^ v
Formula v = |v|
Zero Vector:
 
If terminal point B of a vector AB concides with its initial point A, then |AB | = 0
called zero vector or Null vector.
Position vector:
The vector, whose initial point O is origin & whose terminal point is P, is called
position vector of OP.

EXERCISE 7.1

Q.1 Write the vector PQ in the form xi + yj.
(i) P (2, 3), Q (6, -2)
Solution:
P(2, 3) , Q (6, -2)
  
PQ = OQ – OP – position vector of P
= (6 – 2) i + ( 2 – 3) _j = 4i –5_j
(ii) P (0, 5), Q ( -1, -6)
Solution:
  
PQ = OQ – OP
Mathematics (Part-II) 689 (Ch. 07) Vectors

= (–1 – 0) i + (– 6 – 5) _j = – i – 11_j
Q.2: Find the magnitude of the vector u.
Formula Magnitude or length or Norm of v = xi + yj_ + zk is |V| = x2 + y2 + z2
(i) u = 2i – 7j_
Solution:
u = 2i – 7_j
|u| = (2)2 + (-7)2 = 4 + 49 = 53
(ii) u = i + _j
Solution:
u = i +_j
|u| = (1)2 + (1)2 = 2
(ii) u = [3, 4] (Lahore Board 2005)
Solution:
u = 3i – 4_j
|u| = (3)2 + (– 4)2 = 9 + 16 = 25 = 5
Q.3 If u = 2i – 7j_ , v = i – 6j_ & w = – i + _j , find the following vectors.
(i) u+v –w
Solution:
u + v – w = (2i – 7_j ) + (i – 6_j ) – (i + _j )
= 2i – 7_j + i – 6_j + i – _j = 4i  14_j Ans.
(ii) 2u  3v + 4w
Solution:
2u  3v + 4w
= 2(2i – 7_j ) 3(i – 6_j ) + 4(i + _j )
= 4i  14_j  3i + 18_j 4i + 4_j = 3i + 8_j
1 1 1
(iii) u  v + w
2 2 2
Solution:
1
= 2 [u + v + w]
1
2 [2i – 7_j + i – 6_j – i + _j ]
=
1
2 [ 2i – 12_j ]
=
Mathematics (Part-II) 690 (Ch. 07) Vectors

2
2 [ i – 6_j ] = i – 6j
=
 
Q.4 Find the sum of the vectors AB & CD , given the four points A(1, –1),
B (2, 0), C(-1, 3) & D (-2, 2)
Solution:
  
AB = OB – OA
= (2 – 1) i + (0 + 1) _j = i + _j
  
CD = OD – OC
= (2 + 1) i + (2 – 3) _j =  i  _j
 
Sum = AB + CD = i + _j  i  _j = 0i + 0_j = Null vector

Q.5 Find the vector from the point A to the origin, where AB = 4i – 2j_ and B is
the point (–2, 5).
Solution:

AB = 4i  2_j
  
AB = OB  OA
  
AB  OB = OA
    
AB  OB = AO  AO  – OA

AO = (4i – 2_j ) – (2i + 5_j )

AO = 6i  7_j
Q.6 Find a unit vector in the direction of the vector given below
(i) v = 2i  _j (Lahore Board 2009, 2010)
Solution:
v = 2i  _j

|v| = (2)2 + (1)2

|v| = 4+1 = 5
Mathematics (Part-II) 691 (Ch. 07) Vectors

^ v 2i  _j 2 1
Required unit vector is v = |v| = = i– j
5 5 5
1 3
(ii) v = i+ j
2 2 _
Solution:
1 3
v = 2 i + 2 _j
2 2
1  3 1 3 4
|v| = 2 + 2 = 4+4 = = 1
    4
1 3
i+ _j
^ v 2 2 1 3
Required unit vector is v = |v| = = 2 i + 2 _j Ans.
1
 3 1
(iii) v = i  _j
2 2
Solution:
 3 1
2 i  2 _j
v =
2 2
 3
 +   =
-1 3 1
|v| = 
 2  2 4+4 = 1
 3 1
i – 2 _j
^ v 2  3 1
Required unit vector v = |v| = = 2 i  2 _j Ans.
1
Q.7 If A, B and C are respectively the points (2, – 4), (4, 0) (1, 6). Use vectors to
find coordinates of point D if
(i) ABCD is a parallelogram
Solution:
Let D (x, y) be the required vertex.
Since ABCD is a parallelogram
C(1, 6) B(4, 0)
 
So AB = DC
(4–2) i + (0 + 4) _j = (1 – x) i + (6 – y) _j
2i + 4_j = (1 – x) i + (6 – y) _j
By comparing
2 = 1 – x, 4=6–y A(2,  4) D(x, y)
Mathematics (Part-II) 692 (Ch. 07) Vectors

x=1–2 , y=6–4
x = –1 , y=2
Required coordinates of D are (–1, 2)
Mathematics (Part-II) 693 (Ch. 07) Vectors

(ii) ADBC is a parallelogram.

Solution:
Since ADBC is a parallelogram
  C(1, 6) B(4, 0)
So AD = CB
(x–2) i + (y + 4) _j = (4 – 1) i + (0 – 6) _j
(x  2) i + (y + 4) i = 3i  6_j
By comparing
x  2 = 3 , y + 4 = 6
x=5 , y = – 10 A(2, -4) D(x, y)
Required coordinates of D are (5, 10)
Q.8 If B, C and D are respectively (4, 1), (–2, 3) & (–8, 0). Use vector method to
find the coordinates of the point
(i) A if ABCD is a parallelogram
Solution:
Let the coordinates of point A be (x, y)
Since ABCD is a parallelogram B(8, 0) C(2, 3)
 
Thus, AB = DC
(4–x) i + (1 – y) _j = (–2 + 8) i + (3 – 0) _j
(4 – x) i + (1 – y) _j = 6 i + 3 _j
By comparing
4 – x = 6, 1–y=3 A(x, y) B(4, 1)
4 – 6 = x, 1–3=y
 2 = x, 2 = y
Therefore, required point A is (2, 2)
(ii) E, if AEBD is a parallelogram
Solution:
Let the coordinates of E be = (x, y)
B (4, 1), A (–2, –2), D (– 8, 0), E (x, y)
Since AEBD is a parallelogram
  D(8, 0) B(4, 1)
So AE = DB
(x+2) i + (y + 2) _j = (4 + 8) i + (1 – 0) _j
(x + 2) i + (y + 2) _j = 12 i + _j
By comparing
x + 2 = 12, y+2=1
x = 12  2, y=12 A(2, 2) E(x, y)
x = 10, y = 1
Mathematics (Part-II) 694 (Ch. 07) Vectors

Coordinates of E are (10, –1)

 
Q.9 If D is origin and OP =AB , find the point, where A and B are (– 3,7) & (1, 0)
respectively.
Solution:
Let the coordinates of point P be (x, y)
Therefore
O (0, 0), P (x, y), A (–3, 7), B (1, 0)
Since
 
OP = AB
(x – 0) i + (y – 0) _j = (1 + 3) i + (0 – 7) _j
x i + y _j = 4 i  7_j
(x, y) = (4, – 7) required point.
Q.10 Use vector to show that ABCD is a parallelogram when the points A,B,C & D
are respectively (0, 0), (a, 0), (b, c) & (b – a, c).
(Lahore Board 2009 (supply))
Solution:
Let ABCD be a parallelogram
We have to prove that D (b a, c) C(b, c)
   
AB = DC & AD = BC
Now
  
AB = OB – OA
= (a – 0) i + (0 – 0) _j = a i + 0_j ...... (i)
A(0, 0) B(a, 0)
  
DC = OC – OD
= (b – b + a) i + (c – c) _j = a i + 0_j ...... (ii)
  
AD = OD – OA
= (b – a – 0) i + (c – 0) _j

AD = (b – a) i + c_j ...... (iii)
  
BC = OC – OB = (b – a) i + (c – 0) _j

BC = (b – a) i + c_j ...... (iv)
from (i) (ii) (iii) & (iv)
Mathematics (Part-II) 695 (Ch. 07) Vectors

   
AB = DC and AD = BC Shows ABCD is a parallelogram.
 
Q.11 If AB = CD . Find coordinates of the point A when B, C, D are (1, 2), (-2, 5),
D (4, 11) respectively.
Solution:
Let Coordinates of A be (x, y)
A (x, y) , B (1, 2), C (– 2, 5), D (4, 11)
 
i.e. ; AB = CD
   
OB – OA = OD – OC
(1 – x) i + (2 – y) _j = (4 + 2) i + (11 – 5) _j
By comparing
1 – x = 6, 2–y=6
1 – 6 = x, –y=6–2
 x=5 y=–4
Hence required point is (– 5, – 4)
Q.12 Find the position vector of the point of division of the line segments joining
the following pair of points.
qa + Pb
Formula r =
p+q
(i) Point C with position vector 2i –3j_ and point D with position vector 3i + 2j_
in ratio 4 : 3. (Lahore Board 2009)
Solution:1
Let the position vector of the required point P be r which divides the points C and
D in ratio 4:3 By ratio formula
Pb + qa 4 3
r = C
(
2
,-
3) P
(
x,
y) D
(
3
,2
)
P+q
3 (2i – 3 j ) + 4 (3i + 2 j ) 6i  9 j + 12i + 8 j 18i – _j
    18 1
= = = = i –
4+3 7 7 7 7 _j
(ii) Point E with position vector 5i and point F with position vector 4i + _j in
ratio 2 : 5.
Solution:
Let the position vector of point P be r which divides the points E & F in ratio 2:5.
Mathematics (Part-II) 696 (Ch. 07) Vectors

By ratio formula
Pb 2 5
 + q a
r = E
(
5
,0
) P
(
x,
y) F
(
4,
1)
P+q

5(5i ) + 2 (4i + j ) 25i + 8i + 2 j 33i + 2 j

   33 2
r = = = = 7 i + 7 j Ans.
2+5 7 7 

Q.14 Prove that the line segment joining the mid points of two sides of a triangle is
parallel to the third side and half as long. (Lahore Board 2011)
Solution:
C(c)
Let ABC be any triangle and Let E & F be the mid
points of the two sides AC & BC respectively. Let a, b,
and c be position vector of A, B and C. Therefore position
a + c b + c E
a+c b+c
vectors of E & F are  2  and  2  respectively. 2 F
    2

 
We have to show that (i) AB is parallel to EF
1  
(ii) 2 AB = EF
A (a ) B (b)
  
AB = OB – OA

AB = b – a ............ (i)
  
EF = OF – OE
b+c a+c b+cac b-a
=  2 = =
2 2 2
 1 1 
2 (b – a)
EF = = 2 AB using (i)

  1
EF =  AB where  = 2 .

 
Hence AB and EF are parallel & half as long. Hence proved.
Mathematics (Part-II) 697 (Ch. 07) Vectors

Q.15 Prove that the line segments joining the mid points of the sides of a
quadrilateral taken in order form a parallelogram.
(Gujranwala Board 2007, Lahore Board 2009)
Solution:
Let ABCD be any c+d
D (d) G
quadrilateral. Let E, F, G, H be mid 2 C(c)
points of the sides, a, b, c & d are the
position vectors of A, B, C and D
respectively. The position vectors of E,
a+d
a+b b+c c+d H F
b+c
F, G, & H are 2 , 2 , 2 & 2 2
a+d
respectively.
2
We have to prove that EFGH is
A (a) a+b B(b)
a parallelogram. E
2
  
EF = OF – OE
b+c a+b
2 – 2
=
 b+c–a–b c–a
EF = = ......... (i)
2 2
  
HG = OG – OH
c+d a+d
= 
2 2
c+dad cd
= = ......... (ii)
2 2
  
FG = OG – OF
c+d b+c
= 
2 2
 c+dbc db
FG = 2 = 2 ......... (iii)
  
EH = OH – OE
a+d a+b a+dab db
=  = = ........ (iv)
2 2 2 2
from (i), (ii), (iii) & (iv)
   
EF = HG and EH = FG
Shows EFGH is a parallogram.