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Vector Addition


Vector addition is the operation of adding two or more vectors together into a vector sum.

ParallelogramLaw

The so-called parallelogram law gives the rule for vector addition of two or more vectors. For two vectors A and B, the vector sum A+B is obtained by placing them head to tail and drawing the vector from the free tail to the free head. In Cartesian coordinates, vector addition can be performed simply by adding the corresponding components of the vectors, so if A=(a_1,a_2,...,a_n) and B=(b_1,b_2,...,b_n),

 A+B=(a_1+b_1,a_2+b_2,...,a_n+b_n).

Vector addition is indicated in the Wolfram Language using a plus sign, e.g., {a1, a2, ..., an}+{b1, b2, ..., bn}.


See also

Complex Addition, Cross Product, Dot Product, Parallelogram Law, Scalar Multiplication, Vector, Vector Difference, Vector Multiplication, Vector Subtraction, Vector Sum

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Cite this as:

Weisstein, Eric W. "Vector Addition." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource. https://mathworld.wolfram.com/VectorAddition.html

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