How to Solve A Problem

Appendix IIThinking about Vectors: Basic Notes

Vectors provide us with a way to talk about quantities such as displacement (movement in a specific direction) and force that have both magnitude and direction. The rules that we apply for matrices are even easier to apply for vectors and we will consider some of the most basic rules that are applied across the natural sciences in using vectors to solve problems.

Giving directions from one location to another is an important responsibility. Tales are told of strangers left bewildered by less than ideal directions received from enthusiastic locals.

“Go down the road, turn left at the shop, but not the first shop, the second shop with the blue roof, then go farther down the road to the old oak tree ...