9.4.11 Vectors

A variable representing a vector can be typeset using the command:

\vec{<variable>}

Example:

\[ \vec{x} \]

Vectors are often typeset in bold. This can be done by redefining the \vec command. You could use \mathbf, for example:

\renewcommand{\vec}[1]{\mathbf{#1}} \[ \vec{x}\cdot\vec{\xi} = z \]

However, as you may have noticed, the Greek letter $\xi$ has not come out in bold. Here's an alternative (using \boldsymbol defined in the amsfonts package):

\renewcommand{\vec}[1]{\boldsymbol{#1}}
\[
\vec{x}\cdot\vec{\xi} = z
\]

Located (or position) vectors, on the other hand, are usually typeset with a right arrow, but the default definition of \vec produces an arrow that is too small:

\[ \vec{OP} \]

Instead, use \overrightarrow (Table 9.10):

\[ \overrightarrow{OP} \]

You might prefer to define separate commands for a located vector and a vector variable.

Example:

In the preamble, define \lvec for a located vector and \bvec for a vector variable:

\newcommand*{\lvec}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \newcommand*{\bvec}[1]{\boldsymbol{#1}}

Later in the document:

Let $\bvec{u}=(x, y)$ represent $\lvec{OP}$, then
\[
\lVert \bvec{u} \rVert = \sqrt{x^2 + y^2}
\]

Exercise 23: Maths: Vectors and Arrays
Try to produce the following:

As before, you can download or view the solution.

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