A vector is a mathematical object that has both magnitude (length or size) and direction. It is often represented graphically as an arrow in a coordinate system, with the length of the arrow representing the magnitude and the direction of the arrow representing the direction. Number of elements of a vector is called dimensionality. Key characteristics:
- Magnitude (or length): The size or amount of the vector, often denoted by the symbol ||v|| or |v|.
- Direction: The orientation of the vector in space, often represented by the unit vector (a vector with a magnitude of 1) in the same direction.
- Components: The vector can be broken down into its component parts, often represented as (x, y) in 2-dimensional space or (x, y, z) in 3-dimensional space. Notation:
- Vectors are often denoted by boldface letters, such as v or a.
- The magnitude of a vector v is denoted by ||v|| or |v|.
- The unit vector in the same direction as v is denoted by v/||v|| or û. Examples:
- A displacement vector: an object moves from point A to point B, the vector represents the direction and distance of the movement.
- A force vector: a force applied to an object, the vector represents the direction and magnitude of the force.
#Vector Operations
#Vector Addition
#Scalar Multiplication
#Vector Subtraction
#Vector Linear Combination