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Home Mathematics Vectors Subtraction of Vectors
See also: Addition of Vectors 
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Subtraction of Vectors

The subtraction of vectors is accomplished in the same way as the addition of vectors:

Definition

Let a, b, and c be vectors of the same order and form. The difference vector c := a - b  is then calculated by subtracting the corresponding elements of the vectors a and b: ck := ak - bk.
Note that the subtraction can be formally seen as a summation:  a-b:=a+(-b).

Subtracting two equal vector results in a vector with all elements being zero. This vector is also called a zero vector, usually depicted by o.

This text is part of "Teach/Me Data Analysis" and has been included by permission of the author.

Home Mathematics Vectors Subtraction of Vectors

Last Update: 2005-01-18