Table of contents
- 0. Review of College Algebra4h 43m
- 1. Measuring Angles39m
- 2. Trigonometric Functions on Right Triangles2h 5m
- 3. Unit Circle1h 19m
- 4. Graphing Trigonometric Functions1h 19m
- 5. Inverse Trigonometric Functions and Basic Trigonometric Equations1h 41m
- 6. Trigonometric Identities and More Equations2h 34m
- 7. Non-Right Triangles1h 38m
- 8. Vectors2h 25m
- 9. Polar Equations2h 5m
- 10. Parametric Equations1h 6m
- 11. Graphing Complex Numbers1h 7m
8. Vectors
Geometric Vectors
Problem 35
Textbook Question
In Exercises 21–38, let u = 2i - 5j, v = -3i + 7j, and w = -i - 6j. Find each specified vector or scalar. ||2u||
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1
First, understand that the notation \(||2u||\) represents the magnitude of the vector \(2u\).
Calculate the vector \(2u\) by multiplying each component of \(u = 2i - 5j\) by 2, resulting in \(2u = 4i - 10j\).
To find the magnitude of \(2u\), use the formula for the magnitude of a vector \(a\mathbf{i} + b\mathbf{j}\), which is \(\sqrt{a^2 + b^2}\).
Substitute the components of \(2u\) into the formula: \(a = 4\) and \(b = -10\), giving \(\sqrt{4^2 + (-10)^2}\).
Simplify the expression under the square root to find the magnitude of \(2u\).
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Vector Magnitude
The magnitude of a vector is a measure of its length and is calculated using the formula ||v|| = √(x² + y²) for a vector v = xi + yj in two dimensions. This concept is essential for understanding how to scale vectors and compute their lengths, which is necessary for the given problem.
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Scalar Multiplication of Vectors
Scalar multiplication involves multiplying a vector by a scalar (a real number), which scales the vector's magnitude without changing its direction. For example, if u is a vector and k is a scalar, then ku results in a vector that is k times longer or shorter than u, depending on the value of k.
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Multiplying Vectors By Scalars
Vector Notation and Operations
Vector notation uses components to represent vectors in a coordinate system, such as u = 2i - 5j. Understanding how to manipulate these components through addition, subtraction, and scalar multiplication is crucial for solving vector-related problems, including finding ||2u||.
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i & j Notation
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