13.7.4  Vectors in the plane: segment vector

See Section 14.5.4 for vectors in space.

The segment commands returns and draws vectors. (The segment command can also draw line segments, see section 13.7.3.)

• segment takes two arguments:
  • p, a point.
  • v, a vector.
• segment(p,v) returns the corresponding vector and draws it as a line segment from p to p+v.

Example.
Input:

Output:

The vector command also makes vectors, with a different syntax. It can take its arguments in different ways.

The coordinates of the vector.

• vector takes one argument:
  L, a list of the coordinates of the vector.
• vector(L) returns and draws the vector with the given coordinates, starting from the origin.

Example.
Input:

Output:

Two points or a point and a vector.

• vector takes two arguments:
  • P, a point.
  • Q, a point or a vector. If Q is a point, it can be combined with P in a list.
• vector(P,Q) returns and draws the corresponding vector. If the arguments are two points, the vector goes from P to Q. If the arguments are a point and a vector, then the vector starts at P.

Example.
Input:

or:

or:

Output: