Three Dimensional Vectors

Summary

 

vectors can also be used in three dimensions.

position vectors in three dimensions require an x, y and a z axis.

three dimensional vectors can be shown by line segments, matrices or as unit vectors (with i, j and k components).

three dimensional vectors can be added, subtracted, multiplied by scalars (numbers). these operations can be shown on diagrams.

Key Skills

  • add, subtract vectors and multiply by scalars using matrices or unit vectors.
  • illustrate these operations on diagrams.
  • find the magnitude of three dimensional vectors.

 

Vocabulary

vector, scalarmagnitudematrix, inverse, commutative, associativetranslation, displacement vector, unit vector, position vectorcoordinates, zaxis, three dimensional