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VectorsCambridge IGCSE Maths: Flashcards

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What is a vector?

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What is a vector?
A quantity with both magnitude (size) and direction.
How do you add two column vectors?
Add the corresponding (top and bottom) components separately.
How do you multiply a vector by a scalar?
Multiply every component of the vector by that scalar.
What effect does multiplying a vector by a negative scalar have?
It reverses the vector's direction (as well as scaling its magnitude).
State the formula for the magnitude of the vector (x, y).
Magnitude = √(x² + y²).
What is a position vector?
A vector describing the position of a point relative to a fixed origin O.
How do you find vector AB using position vectors OA and OB?
AB = OB − OA.
When are two vectors parallel?
When one is a scalar multiple of the other.
What two conditions prove that three points are collinear using vectors?
The vectors between the points are parallel (scalar multiples) AND the points share a common point.
What does 'coplanar' mean in the context of vectors?
Lying in the same plane.
Find the magnitude of the vector (6, 8).
√(6² + 8²) = √100 = 10.
Name three notations used to write a vector.
Column vector e.g. (x, y); arrow notation, e.g. AB with an arrow; bold letter, e.g. a.
What visual representation is used for a vector?
A directed line segment (an arrow showing length and direction).