Difference between ( ) and < > ?

[OldMan]

I am looking at the solution to a problem involving shooting a basketball from (0,0) to the basket at (a,b).
In the answer, after the opening paragraph using (0,0) and (a,b), the Professor uses <a,b>, <x,y>, <v cos (theta), v sin (theta)> when describing velocity and position vectors.
I do not understand the difference between using ( ) and < >.
Any assistance understanding the different meanings of ( ) and < > will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you

 

[daon]

Depending on the book, teacher and/or subject (u,v) can mean the ordered pair which lies at x=u and y=v in the cartesian plain, or also a vector from the origin to that point. I have never personally seen <x,y> used in calculus or phyics unless it was describing a vector.

In the scenario you described it looks like (0,0) and (a,b) are used to describe location, in which case they refer to ordered pairs. The vector <a,b> describes the direction and displacement from the origin the ball is going: "(0,0) to (a,b)" = <a,b>.