A unit vector is a vector that has a magnitude of 1 unit.
Vectors i, j and k are examples of unit vectors, since:
- vector i is a vector in parallel to the x-axis, and has a magnitude of 1 unit
- vector j is a vector in parallel to the y-axis, and has a magnitude of 1 unit
- vector k is a vector in parallel to the z-axis, and has a magnitude of 1 unit
In Math, we put the symbol ∧ above the vector to represent a unit vector.
![how unit vectors are represented in Math, by using an inverted V symbol above the vector.](https://emilylearning.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/image-93.png)
For vectors that do not have a magnitude of 1, we can divide them by their own magnitude to so that they become a unit vector.
Hence, to find the unit vector of a, we use this formula:
![formula to find unit vector](https://emilylearning.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/image-92.png)
Notes on H2 Math Vectors
You’ll find all the notes on H2 A Level Math Vectors topic here.
All the notes for H2 A Level Math
Go here to find all the notes and resources for H2 A level Math.