<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >
In this figure a vector C with a negative slope is drawn from the origin. Then from the head of the vector C another vector A with positive slope is drawn and then another vector B with negative slope from the head of the vector A is drawn. From the tail of the vector C a vector R of magnitude of fifty point zero meters and with negative slope of seven degrees is drawn. The head of this vector R meets the head of the vector B. The vector R is known as the resultant vector.

Here, we see that when the same vectors are added in a different order, the result is the same. This characteristic is true in every case and is an important characteristic of vectors. Vector addition is commutative    . Vectors can be added in any order.

A + B = B + A . size 12{"A+B=B+A"} {}

(This is true for the addition of ordinary numbers as well—you get the same result whether you add 2 + 3 size 12{"2+3"} {} or 3 + 2 size 12{"3+2"} {} , for example).

Vector subtraction

Vector subtraction is a straightforward extension of vector addition. To define subtraction (say we want to subtract B size 12{B} {} from A size 12{A} {} , written A B size 12{ "A" "-B"} {} , we must first define what we mean by subtraction. The negative of a vector B is defined to be –B ; that is, graphically the negative of any vector has the same magnitude but the opposite direction , as shown in [link] . In other words, B size 12{B} {} has the same length as –B size 12{"-" "B"} {} , but points in the opposite direction. Essentially, we just flip the vector so it points in the opposite direction.

Two vectors are shown. One of the vectors is labeled as vector   in north east direction. The other vector is of the same magnitude and is in the opposite direction to that of vector B. This vector is denoted as negative B.
The negative of a vector is just another vector of the same magnitude but pointing in the opposite direction. So B size 12{B} {} is the negative of –B size 12{ ital "-B"} {} ; it has the same length but opposite direction.

The subtraction of vector B from vector A is then simply defined to be the addition of –B to A . Note that vector subtraction is the addition of a negative vector. The order of subtraction does not affect the results.

A – B = A +  ( –B ) . size 12{ bold "A – B = A + " \( bold "–B" \) } {}

This is analogous to the subtraction of scalars (where, for example, 5 – 2 = 5 +  ( –2 ) size 12{"5 – 2 = 5 + " \( "–2" \) } {} ). Again, the result is independent of the order in which the subtraction is made. When vectors are subtracted graphically, the techniques outlined above are used, as the following example illustrates.

Subtracting vectors graphically: a woman sailing a boat

A woman sailing a boat at night is following directions to a dock. The instructions read to first sail 27.5 m in a direction 66.0º size 12{"66" "." 0º} {} north of east from her current location, and then travel 30.0 m in a direction 112º size 12{"112"º} {} north of east (or 22.0º size 12{"22" "." 0º} {} west of north). If the woman makes a mistake and travels in the opposite direction for the second leg of the trip, where will she end up? Compare this location with the location of the dock.

A vector of magnitude twenty seven point five meters is shown. It is inclined to the horizontal at an angle of sixty six degrees. Another vector of magnitude thirty point zero meters is shown. It is inclined to the horizontal at an angle of one hundred and twelve degrees.


We can represent the first leg of the trip with a vector A , and the second leg of the trip with a vector B size 12{B} {} . The dock is located at a location A + B . If the woman mistakenly travels in the opposite direction for the second leg of the journey, she will travel a distance B (30.0 m) in the direction 180º 112º = 68º south of east. We represent this as –B , as shown below. The vector –B has the same magnitude as B but is in the opposite direction. Thus, she will end up at a location A + ( –B ) , or A B .

A vector labeled negative B is inclined at an angle of sixty-eight degrees below a horizontal line. A dotted line in the reverse direction inclined at one hundred and twelve degrees above the horizontal line is also shown.

We will perform vector addition to compare the location of the dock, B size 12{ ital "A ""+ "B} {} , with the location at which the woman mistakenly arrives, A +  ( –B ) size 12{ bold "A + " \( bold "–B" \) } {} .


(1) To determine the location at which the woman arrives by accident, draw vectors A size 12{A} {} and –B .

(2) Place the vectors head to tail.

(3) Draw the resultant vector R size 12{R} {} .

(4) Use a ruler and protractor to measure the magnitude and direction of R size 12{R} {} .

Vectors A and negative B are connected in head to tail method. Vector A is inclined with horizontal with positive slope and vector negative B with a negative slope. The resultant of these two vectors is shown as a vector R from tail of A to the head of negative B. The length of the resultant is twenty three point zero meters and has a negative slope of seven point five degrees.

In this case, R = 23 . 0 m size 12{R"=23" "." "0 m"} {} and θ = 7 . size 12{θ=7 "." "5° south of east"} {} south of east.

(5) To determine the location of the dock, we repeat this method to add vectors A size 12{A} {} and B size 12{B} {} . We obtain the resultant vector R ' size 12{R'} {} :

A vector A inclined at sixty six degrees with horizontal is shown. From the head of this vector another vector B is started. Vector B is inclined at one hundred and twelve degrees with the horizontal. Another vector labeled as R prime from the tail of vector A to the head of vector B is drawn. The length of this vector is fifty two point nine meters and its inclination with the horizontal is shown as ninety point one degrees. Vector R prime is equal to the sum of vectors A and B.

In this case R  = 52.9 m size 12{R" = 52" "." "9 m"} {} and θ = 90.1º size 12{θ="90" "." "1° north of east "} {}  north of east.

We can see that the woman will end up a significant distance from the dock if she travels in the opposite direction for the second leg of the trip.


Because subtraction of a vector is the same as addition of a vector with the opposite direction, the graphical method of subtracting vectors works the same as for addition.

Questions & Answers

Application of nanotechnology in medicine
what is variations in raman spectra for nanomaterials
Jyoti Reply
I only see partial conversation and what's the question here!
Crow Reply
what about nanotechnology for water purification
RAW Reply
yes that's correct
I think
what is the stm
Brian Reply
How we are making nano material?
what is a peer
What is meant by 'nano scale'?
What is STMs full form?
scanning tunneling microscope
how nano science is used for hydrophobicity
what is differents between GO and RGO?
analytical skills graphene is prepared to kill any type viruses .
what is Nano technology ?
Bob Reply
write examples of Nano molecule?
The nanotechnology is as new science, to scale nanometric
Is there any normative that regulates the use of silver nanoparticles?
Damian Reply
what king of growth are you checking .?
Stoney Reply
why we need to study biomolecules, molecular biology in nanotechnology?
Adin Reply
what school?
biomolecules are e building blocks of every organics and inorganic materials.
anyone know any internet site where one can find nanotechnology papers?
Damian Reply
sciencedirect big data base
Introduction about quantum dots in nanotechnology
Praveena Reply
what does nano mean?
Anassong Reply
An helicopter is flying over new York with a horizontal component of velocity of 14.6m/s-1 and a vertical component of -8.62 m/s-1, calculate, (a), the magnitude of the total velocity of the helicopter. (b), the angle of the total velocity.
Eseka Reply

Get the best Algebra and trigonometry course in your pocket!

Source:  OpenStax, 2d kinematics. OpenStax CNX. Sep 04, 2015 Download for free at http://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11879/1.3

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the '2d kinematics' conversation and receive update notifications?