Calculus (3rd Edition)

Published by W. H. Freeman
ISBN 10: 1464125260
ISBN 13: 978-1-46412-526-3

Chapter 13 - Vector Geometry - 13.2 Vectors in Three Dimensions - Exercises - Page 660: 57

Answer

The components of the vector ${\bf{v}}$: ${\bf{v}} = \left( {0,\frac{1}{2}, - \frac{1}{2}} \right)$

Work Step by Step

From Figure 18 we have $A = \left( {1,0,1} \right)$, $B = \left( {1,1,0} \right)$ and $C = \left( {0,1,1} \right)$. Since the midpoint of $\left( {{a_1},{a_2},{a_3}} \right)$ and $\left( {{b_1},{b_2},{b_3}} \right)$ is given by $\left( {\frac{{{a_1} + {b_1}}}{2},\frac{{{a_2} + {b_2}}}{2},\frac{{{a_3} + {b_3}}}{2}} \right)$, so 1. the midpoint of segment $\overline {AC} $ is $\left( {\frac{{0 + 1}}{2},\frac{{1 + 0}}{2},\frac{{1 + 1}}{2}} \right) = \left( {\frac{1}{2},\frac{1}{2},1} \right)$ 2. the midpoint of segment $\overline {BC} $ is $\left( {\frac{{0 + 1}}{2},\frac{{1 + 1}}{2},\frac{{1 + 0}}{2}} \right) = \left( {\frac{1}{2},1,\frac{1}{2}} \right)$ Let ${\bf{v}}$ be the vector whose tail and head are the midpoints of segments $\overline {AC} $ and $\overline {BC} $. So, ${\bf{v}}$ is based at $\left( {\frac{1}{2},\frac{1}{2},1} \right)$ and its head is at $\left( {\frac{1}{2},1,\frac{1}{2}} \right)$. Thus, the components of ${\bf{v}}$ are ${\bf{v}} = \left( {\frac{1}{2},1,\frac{1}{2}} \right) - \left( {\frac{1}{2},\frac{1}{2},1} \right) = \left( {0,\frac{1}{2}, - \frac{1}{2}} \right)$.
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