by bobbybrown on September 16th, 2008

bobbybrown

Question

Help answer this question below.

With vector alegbra, how would you plot such a vector on a coordinate plane as (-4 i-hat + 4 j-hat)?

Answers. 3 helpful answers below.

  • by xprofessor on September 16th, 2008

    xprofessor

    By 'hat' I assume you mean the symbol ^ , which when placed over i and j means UNIT VECTORS along two perpendicular axes. I'll write i^ and j^ to mean i-hat and j-hat.

    So it's similar to plotting the point (-4,4) on the x-y Cartesian plane. The numbers -4 and +4 are the vector's COMPONENTS.

    [edit]
    The unit vectors i^ and j^ go from the origin(0,0) to the points (1,0) and (0,1), respectively. (Sometimes you use -1.)

    The components are like a recipe. The vector from the origin (0,0) to the point (-4,4) is composed of -4 of i^ and +4 of j^. Since i^ = (1,0) then -4i^ = (-4,0) etc. When you take a vector of length 4 in the OPPOSITE direction of i^, and add it to a vector of length 4 ALONG the direction of j^, you get a vector at 45 degrees according to the parallelogram rule.

    Put differently, the vector from (0,0) to (-4,4) DECOMPOSES into -4i^ + 4j^. (also see LINEAR COMBINATION)

    The length of this vector is 4√2 using the Pythagorean theorem.

    • Like
    • Report

    8 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • by krazymike on September 16th, 2008

    krazymike

    hat? is that supposed to be -4i + 4j?

    You simply put a point on (-4, 4) just like it's a Cartesian plane. The resultant magnitude is 4√2

    • Like
    • Report

    2 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • by bobbybrown on September 16th, 2008

    bobbybrown

    so, will the be along the X and Y axi? and how do you calculate the magnitude and direction, given VectorC = (-4i^, 4j^)

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

Want to attach an image to your answer? Click here.

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

You're reading With vector alegbra, how would you plot such a vector on a coordinate plane as (-4 i-hat + 4 j-hat)?

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

ANSWERBAG BUZZ

Resultant magnitude vector x y z
Draw each of the following vectors label an angle that specifies the vector s direction
Javascript vector direction plot
How to determine the directon of a resutant vector with opposite directon
Appropriate euphemism