Vector in the field of mathematics refer to a quantity that contains both magnitude value and the corresponding direction.  As opposed to scalar quantities which only have magnitude, vectors contain details of an object’s magnitude and direction. When applied to everyday settings, vector quantities may be useful in giving people directions about a friend’s house or office for example.  It is typical for people to say that a friend’s house is about 5 kilometers away by foot and that the person asking for direction is instructed to take the South direction for example.  In this example, both the distance and direction of the house is given which is 5 km South.  These details represent the magnitude and direction which are the main components of vector quantities.

Using the same example as in the person asking for directions on a friend’s house, the distance detail which is 5 kilometers is considered a scalar quantity.  Scalar quantities only represent the magnitude which is 5 kilometers.  On the other hand, the distance which is a scalar quantity can be converted into a vector quantity by stating the direction of the friend’s house which is South.  Having the direction component completes the requirements of having a vector in this particular example.

Velocity is another example of vector quantity.  It contains details about the speed of movement by a particular object along with the direction to which the object is moving.  Speed alone is considered scalar because it only pertains to the magnitude of movement.  When the direction is added to the equation, speed becomes velocity which is now a vector quantity.  A car moving 50 km/hour to the East pertains to the car’s velocity which is a vector quantity.  Other examples of vector quantities in the field of mathematics are displacement and acceleration.  Displacement represents the measurement of the shortest distance from start to finish.  Acceleration mean while represents the rate of change of velocity in a given object.