article
A knight's journey
This article looks at knight's moves on a chess board and introduces you to the idea of vectors and vector addition.
Vectors
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articleThe use of mathematics in computer games
An account of how mathematics is used in computer games including geometry, vectors, transformations, 3D graphics, graph theory and simulations. -
articleAn introduction to vectors
The article provides a summary of the elementary ideas about vectors usually met in school mathematics, describes what vectors are and how to add, subtract and multiply them by scalars and indicates why they are useful. -
articleMultiplication of vectors
An account of multiplication of vectors, both scalar products and vector products. -
problemFlexi quad tan
Age16 to 18Challenge level
As a quadrilateral Q is deformed (keeping the edge lengths constnt) the diagonals and the angle X between them change. Prove that the area of Q is proportional to tanX. -
problem8 methods for three by one
Age14 to 18Challenge level
This problem in geometry has been solved in no less than EIGHT ways by a pair of students. How would you solve it? How many of their solutions can you follow? How are they the same or different? Which do you like best? -
problemAir routes
Age16 to 18Challenge level
Find the distance of the shortest air route at an altitude of 6000 metres between London and Cape Town given the latitudes and longitudes. A simple application of scalar products of vectors. -
problemV-P cycles
Age16 to 18Challenge level
Form a sequence of vectors by multiplying each vector (using vector products) by a constant vector to get the next one in the seuence(like a GP). What happens?
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problemFrom point to point
Age14 to 16Challenge level
Can you combine vectors to get from one point to another?