Vector Addition (CIE A Level Maths: Pure 3)

Vector addition

• Adding vectors together lets us describes the movement between two points
• The single vector this creates is called the resultant vector
• Subtracting a vector is the same as adding the negative vector
• Adding the vectors PQ and QP gives the zero vector, denoted by a bold zero 0

 

• You can add and subtract vectors in any of the forms previously described:

 

Scalars and parallel vectors

• Multiplying by a positive scalar only changes the size of a vector, not its direction
• Two vectors are parallel if and only if one is a scalar multiple of the other