Steply

Vector from (0, 1, 2) to (2, 3, 3)

Step by step, with the reason for every step · Vectors in space · Calculus 3

Step by step

The question

Question: find the vector from (0, 1, 2) to (2, 3, 3), and its length.

(0, 1, 2) to (2, 3, 3)

1 Draw it

Draw the three axes: x toward us, y right, z up.

The arrow starts at (0, 1, 2)

and ends at (2, 3, 3).

Draw the arrow from the start to the end.

We call it v.

2 Work part by part

Each part is end minus start: x minus x, y minus y, z minus z.

v = ⟨2 − 0, 3 − 1, 3 − 2⟩
end − start

Careful!

Not start minus end.

That gives an arrow pointing the other way.

Careful: not ⟨−2, −2, −1⟩ ✗

2 minus 0 is 2.

3 minus 1 is 2.

3 minus 2 is 1.

So v = ⟨2, 2, 1⟩.

v = ⟨2, 2, 1⟩

3 Find the length

The length ‖v‖ is Pythagoras with three parts.

Square each part, add, then take the square root.

‖v‖ = √22 + 22 + 12

2 squared is 4.

2 squared is 4.

1 squared is 1.

‖v‖ = √4 + 4 + 1

Add: 4 plus 4 plus 1 is 9.

‖v‖ = √9

3 times 3 is 9.

3 × 3 = 9

So ‖v‖ = 3.

‖v‖ = 3

4 Check

Let's check: start at (0, 1, 2) and add the parts.

We land on (2, 3, 3), the end!

(0 + 2, 1 + 2, 2 + 1) = (2, 3, 3)

And the length squared is 9, the sum of the squares.

Right!

3² = 9

Let's look back.

First: draw it.

Then: work part by part.

Then: find the length.

Last: check.

Answer
v = ⟨2, 2, 1⟩

Your turn

Try this one yourself, then check:

Find the vector from (0, 4, 2) to (8, 8, 3)
Show the answer
⟨8, 4, 1⟩, ‖v‖ = 9

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