Q&A for How to Find the Magnitude of a Vector

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The coordinates of head and tail of a vector are (2, 1, 0), (-4, 2, -3). What is the magnitude of the vector?

Community Answer

You can use the same formula: |→a| = √((x2 – x1)^2 + (y2 – y1)^2), but add on (z2 – z1)^2 at the end for the third set of coordinates!

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Question

How do I find the direction?

Community Answer

Use this formula: tan(y component / x component). If the vector is in quadrant 3 or 4, add a half rotation.

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What is the magnitude of the resultant vector of vector A-12.66 and vector B-11.93?

Community Answer

To get the magnitude you need to square both the vectors' magnitude and then take the underroot.

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How do I find the magnitude of a vertical and horizontal component if a vector is shown in a scale diagram?

Community Answer

If you're given an angle, use that angle and the vector's magnitude to calculate. Vx= (vector's mag)*cos(angle), Vy= (vector's mag)*sin(angle).

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How can I find the magnitude of vectors if there is no coordinates, an angle, and then a force?

Community Answer

If you are given a value for work, you can divide that value by the magnitude of the force multiplied by the cosine of the angle, since W=|F||d|cos⍺ (|d|=W/(|F|cos⍺)).

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How do I find the vector when only its modulus is given?

Community Answer

One modulus can apply to more than one vector, so any coordinates that fit the formula |a|= square root of (x^2 = y^2) should work, where |a|= the magnitude/modulus.

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How do I find the angle between two vectors?

Donagan

Top Answerer

See Find the Angle Between Two Vectors .

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How do I find the magnitude of vector AB when A is at (-4,-6) and B is at (1,-3)?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Subtract 1 from -4 to get -5 and square it to get 25. Subtract -3 from -6 to get -3 and square it to get 9. Add 25 and 9 to get 34. The square root of 34 is approximately 5.83, which is the magnitude of vector AB.

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Question

What is the magnitude of the resultant vector if a person walks 600 meters east, then turns 400 meters north, and finally walks 300 meters west?

Donagan

Top Answerer

The person ends up 400 meters north of the starting point and 300 meters east. The magnitude of the resultant vector is calculated as √[(400)² + (300)²] = √250,000 = 500 meters.

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