Question

Vector subtraction is______.

Options

• non-commutative only

• non-associative only

• either commutative or associative

• neither commutative nor associative

Answer 1

Vector subtraction is neither commutative nor associative.

Explanation:

Vector subtraction is not commutative since \[\vec A\] − \[\vec B\] ≠ \[\vec B\] − \[\vec A\], and not associative since (\[\vec A\] − \[\vec B\]) − \[\vec C\] ≠ \[\vec A\] − (\[\vec B\] − \[\vec C\]).