Vectors

Vectors can be represented and used in varying ways within computer science. A vector for example can be a data structure used to store values, a vector could also be a function which maps one value to another. The final representation is to define geometric shapes, such has vector graphics.

Data Structure

Values stored within a list. Often a one dimensional array where each value can be accessed by its location.

A dictionary could alternatively be used with the key used as the index of the data structure.

Vectors as a function

A function essentially maps an input to an output, for example the function f(x) = x2 will take the input (x) and map it to the squared value of x. A vector can therefore be used to represent a function:

Therefore F: S → R

Vectors as arrows

A vector is a combination of 3 things:

• A positive number called its magnitude
• A direction in space
• A sense giving more precise idea of direction

Two vectors are equal if they have the same magnitude, the same direction (ie parallel), and the same sense: In the diagram above we can say:

If two vectors have the same length and are parallel but have opposite senses then one is the negative of the other:

In the diagram above we can say:

Vector Calculations

For calculations break the vector into x & y components:

So vector A has an x component and a y component, ie Ax & Ay , and Each component will be the number of units.

Adding Vectors

To add two vectors together you can place the start of your second vector at the end of your first. The line from the start of the first vector to the end of you second vector should be the result of adding them together.

You can work this out mathematically by adding together the x component of each vector and adding together the y component of each vector.

So adding together vector A=(8, 13) and vector B=(26, 7) is essentially:

A+B = (Ax +Bx , Ay + By)

A+B = (8 + 26, 13 + 7) = (34, 20)

Subtracting Vectors

Using a similar method to the one shown in vector addition, you break each vector into x & y components and subtract the Bx value from the Ax value, and subtract the By value from the Ay value.

So if vector K= (4,5) and vector V = (12,2), V – K would be:

V - K = (12, 2) – (4, 5) = (12 – 4, 2 – 5) = (8, -3)

Alternatively you could also say that:

V - K = V + -K

Calculating the Magnitude

You can use Pythagoras to calculate the magnitude of a vector: For example the vector Z = (6, 8):

So the |Z| = √(6² + 8²) = √(36 + 64) = √(100) = 10

Vector multiplication by scalar

One of the key concepts of Vector Graphics is that the image can be mathematically scaled to any size and still retain the quality of the graphic. Any vector can be scaled by multiplying both the x and y components by the same scalar.

For example the vector M = (7, 3) and we want to multiply it by the scalar 3: A = 3m = (3 * 7, 3 * 3) = (21, 9)

The new vector A will still point in the same direction but it will be 3 times longer.

Dot Product

This is a process of combining two vectors to calculate a single number. This is achieved by multiplying the two x components and the two y components and then adding these two values together.

So:

A.B = (Ax * Bx) + (Ay * By)

If A = (3, 5) and B = (7, 2)

A.B = (3 * 7) + (5 * 2) = 21 + 10 = 31

This would also work in three dimensions:

If A = (5, 3, 2) and B = (2, 7, 4)

A.B = (5 * 2) + (3 * 7) + (2 * 4) = (10) + (21) + (8) = 39

Convex Combinations

Convex Hull: Can be visualized as the space enclosed by a rubber band being stretched around a set of direction vectors.

Convex Combinations is a method of multiplying vectors that produces a resulting vector within the convex hull, which is a spatial representation of the vector space between two vectors a good example of this would be the field of view on a camera in a game. Mathematically,to perform a convex combination, you will be multiplying one vector either by a scalar, or by another vector.

This could be represented as: D = αAB + βAC AB and AC are the two direction vectors α and β represent the real number that each vector will be multiplied by α and β must both be greater than or equal to 0 and α + β must equal 1. D will then fall within the vector space.