Q.If $OA = i + j + k$, $AB = 3i - 2j - k$, $BC = i - 2j - 2k$ and $CD = 2i + j + 3k$, then find the vector $OD$.

Add the $\hat i,\hat j,\hat k$ components of the three vectors separately.

$\vec a+\vec b+\vec c$:

$\hat i$: $1-2+1=0$

$\hat j$: $-2+4-6=-4$

$\hat k$: $1+5-7=-1$

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Using the triangle law of vector addition, the three vectors form a closed triangle. Applying the cosine rule to the triangle formed by $\vec{b}$ and $\vec{c}$ (with $\vec{a}$ as their resultant) gives $\cos\theta = \frac{1}{2}$, so the angle between $\vec{b}$ and $\vec{c}$ is $\frac{\pi}{3}$.

Walking along all three sides of a triangle in order brings you back to the starting point, so the net vector displacement is zero.

Let the triangle have vertices $A$, $B$, $C$. Taking the sides in order as vectors: $\overrightarrow{AB} + \overrightarrow{BC} + \overrightarrow{CA}$.

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Vector addition is associative — the way three vectors are grouped while adding does not affect the result.

For any three vectors $\vec{a},\vec{b},\vec{c}$, the associative property of vector addition states:

$(\vec{a}+\vec{b})+\vec{c}=\vec{a}+(\vec{b}+\vec{c})$

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Traversing a triangle's three sides in order returns you to the starting point, so the vector sum is zero.

Let the triangle have vertices $A,B,C$. Taking the sides in order as $\vec{AB},\vec{BC},\vec{CA}$:

$\vec{AB}+\vec{BC}+\vec{CA}=\vec{AC}+\vec{CA}=\vec{AC}-\vec{AC}=\vec{0}.$ …

Add/subtract the vectors component-by-component ($\hat i,\hat j,\hat k$ separately).

Given $\vec a=2\hat i+0\hat j+3\hat k$, $\vec b=\hat i+2\hat j-3\hat k$, $\vec c=0\hat i+3\hat j-4\hat k$.

$\vec a-\vec b=(2-1)\hat i+(0-2)\hat j+(3-(-3))\hat k=\hat i-2\hat j+6\hat k$.

$2\vec c=6\hat j-8\hat k$.

$\vec a-\vec b+2\vec c=(1+0)\hat i+(-2+6)\hat j+(6-8)\hat k=\hat i+4\hat j-2\hat k$.

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The statement is True — this is a direct consequence of the triangle law of vector addition.

Let the triangle have vertices $A,B,C$. Taking the sides in order means $\overrightarrow{AB},\overrightarrow{BC},\overrightarrow{CA}$ (each side's vector starts where the previous one ended).

By the triangle law, $\overrightarrow{AB}+\overrightarrow{BC}=\overrightarrow{AC}$.

Adding $\overrightarrow{CA}$ to both sides: …

Two forces at right angles combine like the legs of a right triangle — the resultant is the hypotenuse, found with the Pythagorean form of the parallelogram law.

When two forces (or vectors) $P$ and $Q$ act at a point with an angle $\theta$ between them, the magnitude of their resultant is:

$R = \sqrt{P^2 + Q^2 + 2PQ\cos\theta}$

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definition recall

Triangle law of vectors: If two vectors are represented in magnitude and direction by the two sides of a triangle taken in the same order, then their resultant (sum) is represented in magnitude and direction by the third side of the triangle taken in the reverse order.

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