The negative sign reverses the direction of the vector.
Example:
Example:
Vectors : equal and negative vectors or opposite vectors
Example:
EF = - FE
Negative Vector and Single Letter (Position) Vectors
Defines negative vector and shows why vector ba is equal to vector -ab. Defines position vector and states that a vector which starts at the origin can be expressed in terms of its end point only, i.e.as a single letter vector.
Negative Vector
Consider the journey from a to b followed by the return journey from b back to a. In terms of vectors, this is written as ab + ba. Overall, we have arrived back where we started; we have effectively gone nowhere. We call this vector O and treat it like the number 0.
Position Vector
If O is the origin, then it is common practice to write the vector OA as the vector a. Any single letter vector x stands for and may be drawn as the vector OX. A vector which starts at the origin is called a position vector.
Equal, Negative and Parallel Vectors
Equal Vectors
Vectors that are the same size and direction
Negative Vectors
Vectors that are opposite in direction and the same size
Parallel Vectors
Vectors that have the same or opposite directions, the sizes may be different
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