GCSE Maths Practice: vectors
This question shows how to represent downward movement using column vectors.
0 across → x=0, downward → negative y.
In a column vector, the top component represents horizontal movement (x-axis) and the bottom represents vertical movement (y-axis). A downward movement is indicated by a negative bottom component. For instance, 0 units across and 4 units down is represented by \(\begin{pmatrix}0\\-4\end{pmatrix}\). Understanding how to translate movements into vectors is critical for coordinate geometry, physics, and navigation. Practicing positive and negative displacements improves comprehension of vector directionality and real-world applications such as plotting motion or calculating resultant displacement. Visualization on a graph helps students see the movement clearly and ensures they interpret vector notation correctly.