A Level · Cambridge (CIE) · 9709

Read vector notation and distinguish position from displacement

Use column and basis-vector notation, identify the starting and finishing points, and subtract their positions in the correct order.

Section 3.7 · Vectors

Pure Mathematics 3 · Vectors · 3.7

Exam scope and assessment notes

Pure Mathematics 3 (Paper 3, A Level) · Mathematics 9709, 2026–2027, section 3.7. Paper 1 coordinate geometry and algebra are assumed. Work in two or three dimensions as stated. The general section theorem is not included; midpoint geometry is required. The cross product, shortest distance between skew lines and their common perpendicular are not required. Scalar products include angles between lines and the foot of a perpendicular from a point to a line, including 3D solids. Written practice is self-checked; human subject-teacher review remains pending.

Before you begin

Read signed coordinates in two and three dimensions.
Subtract signed numbers component by component.

Work on paper. Try each question before revealing help, and explain why your method works.

Quick readiness check

If A has position a and B has position b, which expression is →AB?

What you will learn

Translate between column vectors, component triples and i, j, k notation.
Distinguish a position vector from a directed displacement and reverse a displacement correctly.

The notation records ordered components

The unit basis vectors i, j and k point along the positive x, y and z axes respectively. Thus a = 3i − 2j + k has components (3, −2, 1), or column notation (3, −2, 1)ᵀ. In two dimensions omit the third component or use zero when embedding the vector in a 3D coordinate system. The superscript transpose on a component row is a compact way to indicate the corresponding column vector. Keep the component order and signs.

A vector has magnitude and direction; a coordinate point identifies a location in the chosen frame. The position vector of A is the vector from the origin O to A, written →OA or a. An arrow such as →AB instead names a displacement from A to B. Bold letters, arrow notation, basis-vector notation and column vectors can describe the same directed vector. A free displacement can be translated without changing its components, while a position vector depends on the chosen origin.

Finish minus start gives the directed displacement

If A and B have position vectors a and b relative to the same origin, →AB = b − a. For A = (2, −1, 3) and B = (−1, 4, 5), →AB = (−3, 5, 2)ᵀ and →BA = (3, −5, −2)ᵀ. Adding →AB to a produces b, which checks the endpoint. Reversing a displacement changes every component's sign; merely interchanging the labels while leaving the components unchanged is incorrect.

If both points are translated by the same vector c, their displacement is (b + c) − (a + c) = b − a. Their positions change, but their separation vector does not. If a point starts at position p and undergoes displacement d, its final position is p + d. A displacement need not equal the final position unless the starting position is the origin. State the coordinate directions and units in a supplied physical model.

Pause and explain

A point starts at (2, 0, 1) and moves by (−1, 3, 2). What is its final position?

Put the idea to work

Worked example

For A = (2, −1, 3) and B = (−1, 4, 5), give →AB and →BA in column and basis-vector notation.

Show the worked solution

Subtract start from finish: b − a = (−1 − 2, 4 − (−1), 5 − 3).
Thus →AB = (−3, 5, 2)ᵀ = −3i + 5j + 2k.
Reverse all signs for →BA = (3, −5, −2)ᵀ; a + →AB = b checks the first displacement.

Answer →AB = (−3, 5, 2)ᵀ; →BA = (3, −5, −2)ᵀ.

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From guided practice to a new situation

Write your answer and reasoning first. Use a hint only if you are stuck. The model solution is for self-checking; your written work is not automatically marked.

1 · Guided

Let a = 3i − 2j + k and b = −i + 4j + 2k. Give both column vectors and calculate b − a.

Give me a hint

Write the ordered coefficients before subtracting signed components.

Compare my reasoning

The columns are a = (3, −2, 1)ᵀ and b = (−1, 4, 2)ᵀ.
Subtract to obtain b − a = (−4, 6, 1)ᵀ.
Check a + (b − a) = b; the middle subtraction is 4 − (−2) = 6.

a = (3, −2, 1)ᵀ; b = (−1, 4, 2)ᵀ; b − a = (−4, 6, 1)ᵀ.

Look for these in your work

Retain the component order and every sign.
Check the subtraction by reconstructing the finishing vector.

2 · Independent

A = (−2, 1) and B = (4, −3). Find →AB and →BA. Then translate both points by (5, 2) and check whether →AB changes.

Give me a hint

Calculate both new positions, then subtract them in the same direction.

Compare my reasoning

Originally →AB = (6, −4)ᵀ and →BA = (−6, 4)ᵀ.
The translated points are A′ = (3, 3) and B′ = (9, −1).
B′ − A′ = (6, −4)ᵀ, so the common translation changes positions but preserves displacement.

→AB = (6, −4)ᵀ; →BA = (−6, 4)ᵀ; translated displacement remains (6, −4)ᵀ.

Look for these in your work

Reverse the displacement by negating both components.
Distinguish the changed positions from the unchanged displacement.

3 · Transfer

A survey uses x east, y north and z up, in metres. Markers M and N have positions (1, 2, 0.5) and (4, −2, 1.5). Find the displacement from M to N and the return displacement, and check the endpoint.

Give me a hint

Use the supplied coordinate frame and subtract M from N.

Compare my reasoning

The outward displacement is (4 − 1, −2 − 2, 1.5 − 0.5) = (3, −4, 1) metres.
The return displacement is (−3, 4, −1) metres.
Adding (3, −4, 1) to M gives N; the negative north component means 4 metres south.

Outward (3, −4, 1) m; return (−3, 4, −1) m.

Look for these in your work

Use the stated directions and units consistently.
Verify the final position from the starting position plus displacement.

Common mistakes

Keep x, y, z component order and subtract the starting position.
Position and displacement have different meanings even when both are written as triples.
Reverse every component when reversing the arrow.

Recall without your notes

What can you explain now?

Express 3i − 2j + k as a column vector.

Compare with the explanation

(3, −2, 1)ᵀ.

The three coefficients are the ordered x, y and z components.

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Make it stick

Write one vector in column and i, j, k notation. Explain the difference between a point's position and its displacement to another point, and check finish minus start.

If you needed the solution, close it and solve the problem again from a blank page. A correct answer is stronger when you can explain the reason for each step.

Keep learning Mathematics

Check the official syllabus 2026–2027

Course scope and assessment

312 sequenced lessons provide 936 guided, independent and application problems covering the 160 objectives in sections 1.1–1.8, 2.1–2.6, 3.1–3.9, 4.1–4.5, 5.1–5.5 and 6.1–6.5. The map lists all 38 sections across six alternative components; all eight Pure Mathematics 1 sections and all six Pure Mathematics 2 sections, from Paper 2 Algebra through Numerical solution of equations, currently have full teaching sequences. Paper 3 Algebra, section 3.1, links the six shared foundation lessons plus six lessons on partial fractions and rational binomial expansions; Paper 3 logarithms, trigonometry and numerical equations use the shared lessons, with the Paper 1 graph foundation linked into trigonometry. Paper 3 differentiation combines the shared methods with its inverse-tangent derivative lesson. Paper 3 Integration links four shared standard and identity lessons plus seven advanced lessons, covering all six section 3.5 requirements. Eight Vectors lessons cover all six section 3.7 requirements, with 2D and 3D line and solid applications. Nine Differential equations lessons cover all four section 3.8 requirements, including Paper 3 integration techniques, initial conditions, equilibrium solutions and conditional model interpretations. Eleven Complex numbers lessons cover all eight section 3.9 requirements, with seven Argand diagrams and explicit argument and boundary checks. All nine Pure Mathematics 3 sections now have teaching linked to every mapped requirement. Nine Forces and equilibrium lessons cover all seven section 4.1 requirements, with six force diagrams, signed incline-friction intervals, reaction-dependent pull and push limits and separate-body third-law checks. Nine Kinematics lessons cover the four official section 4.2 requirements, with the graph requirement mapped to three relationships. Six motion diagrams support directed quantities, graph slopes and signed areas, Paper 1 time-calculus methods, reversal distances, constant-acceleration stages and shared-clock particle meetings. Six Momentum lessons cover both section 4.3 requirements, including signed system totals, conservation assumptions, outgoing velocities, coalescence, unknown masses and successive impacts. Four diagrams show system momentum through the stipulated events, and supplied kinetic-energy checks distinguish conservation of momentum from changes in kinetic energy. Twelve Newton’s laws lessons cover all four section 4.4 requirements, with vertical support and release stages, rough horizontal and incline motion, inferred parameters, hanging and surface pulley systems, rigid tow-bar thrust and slack-string transitions. Seven force diagrams support the separate-particle balances. Nine Energy, work and power lessons cover all five section 4.5 requirements, with angle-dependent work, kinetic and reference potential energy, signed net-work balances, smooth curved slides, rough and driven slopes, ideal connected-system energy and instantaneous power on hills. Five diagrams distinguish the energy inputs, losses and valid positive-speed force model. All five Mechanics sections now have teaching and staged practice linked to their mapped requirements. Thirteen Representation of data lessons cover all five section 5.1 requirements, including choice and limitations of displays, ordered and back-to-back stems, raw summaries and box plots, unequal-width density histograms, cumulative-frequency interpolation, descriptive moment calculations, grouped estimates, coding, combining two datasets and correcting totals. Six accessible diagrams retain repeated observations and distinguish numerical spread, frequency area and estimated readings. Ten Permutations and combinations lessons cover both official section 5.2 requirements, with selection and ordered roles, repeated objects, adjacency blocks, non-adjacency gaps, leading-zero cases, labelled multi-row seating and mixed restrictions. Six accessible diagrams show outcome trees, ordered versus unordered choices, repeated copies, blocks, gaps and distinct row seats. Eleven Probability lessons cover all four section 5.3 requirements, with equiprobable elementary outcomes, selection-based probabilities, complements and disjoint regions, independence tests, restricted sample spaces, two-way tables, replacement and removal trees, reversed conditions and unknown parameters. Seven accessible diagrams show dice outcomes, random subsets, event regions, a conditioned grid, a count table and two probability trees. Twelve Discrete random variables lessons cover all three official section 5.4 requirements, with complete probability tables, moment and parameter checks, binomial assumptions, exact probabilities and moments, geometric first-success probabilities, tails, expectation and integer reliability thresholds. Six accessible diagrams distinguish outcome grouping, weighted moments, fixed trials, discrete probability bars, waiting conventions and integer tail deadlines. Twelve Normal distribution lessons cover all three official section 5.5 requirements, with continuous-area interpretation, MF19 cumulative tables, full standardisation, tail and interval regions, conditional probabilities, percentiles, one- and two-parameter inference, binomial suitability, continuity corrections and approximate integer thresholds. Seven accessible diagrams show model areas, table reading, aligned scales, intervals, quantiles, matched binomial and normal shapes and whole integer cells. All five Statistics 1 sections now have teaching and staged practice linked to their mapped requirements. Fourteen Poisson distribution lessons cover all five official section 6.1 requirements, with homogeneous event-count assumptions, exposure scaling, exact masses and tails, conditional count events, moments, parameter inference, probability duration targets, disjoint and overlapping windows, rare-count binomial approximations, matched normal approximations and continuity corrections. Nine accessible diagrams show event exposures, unit conversions, discrete bars, complete tail complements, population moments, shared windows, approximate count models and integer cells. Exact checks distinguish approximate and exact close-target decisions. Fourteen Linear combinations lessons cover the six listed results in official section 6.2, with affine moments, signed scales and constant cases, expectation without independence, independent squared variance contributions, fixed and random fees, independent copies versus reused values, affine normal events, independent normal sums and differences, weighted and conditional areas, coefficient inference, exact independent Poisson sums and overlapping exposure limits. Nine accessible diagrams distinguish scale changes, variance contributions, component costs, copy mechanisms, aligned normal scales, summed areas, Poisson count pairs and unsupported distribution claims. Fourteen Continuous random variables lessons cover both official section 6.3 requirements, with density validity and units, support-aware intervals, complements and conditional regions, first and second moments, percentiles by direct density areas, symmetry checks, parameter inference, infinite-support power and exponential integrals, divergent-moment limits and combined applications. Nine accessible diagrams distinguish density height from probability, normalisation, negative-density failures, central and conditional areas, mean versus median, percentile locations and partial infinite tails. Explicit cumulative distribution function knowledge is not required. Eighteen Sampling and estimation lessons cover all eight official section 6.4 requirements, with population and frame definitions, random-number selection, sampling-quality limits, independent sample-mean moments, normal means, CLT conditions, SE scaling, raw, summarised and coded unbiased estimates, known-variance and large-sample mean intervals, repeated-sampling interpretation, precision planning, proportion intervals, sparse-outcome limits and contextual applications. Ten accessible diagrams distinguish selection frames, number rejection, repeated sample means, population versus mean density, CLT models, variance divisors, interval targets, illustrative coverage, integer size checks and proportion margins. Eighteen Hypothesis tests lessons cover all five official section 6.5 requirements, with pre-specified alternatives, inclusive count tails, explicit equal-tail conventions, integer critical regions and actual significance, exposure-aware Poisson tests, continuity-corrected count approximations, normal and large-sample mean tests, confidence-interval connections, error classifications, fixed-region binomial, Poisson and normal error probabilities and sample-size power comparisons. Nine accessible diagrams show the testing procedure, exact count regions, unequal Poisson tails, discrete significance jumps, corrected count boundaries, matching mean intervals and alternative error distributions. All shared lessons are counted once in the course total. All 38 sections now link teaching and practice. Eight earlier overview lessons remain available, but do not count as full section coverage. This is a content-availability measure, not full programme completion or exam readiness. Written practice is self-checked, not officially marked. Check the 2028–2030 syllabus separately if sitting an examination from 2028; this teaching map uses 2026–2027 requirements.