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Ch. 4 - Laws of Sines and Cosines; Vectors
Chapter 4, Problem 4

In Exercises 1–4, u and v have the same direction. In each exercise: Find ||v||. Graph showing points (-21, 10) and (-21, -20) with a vector b between them.

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1
Identify the coordinates of the vector v, which are (-21, 10) and (-21, -20).
Calculate the change in the y-coordinates: Δy = -20 - 10.
Since the x-coordinates are the same, the change in x is Δx = 0.
Use the formula for the magnitude of a vector: ||v|| = √(Δx^2 + Δy^2).
Substitute the values: ||v|| = √(0^2 + (-30)^2) and simplify.

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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, denoted as ||v||, represents its length in a coordinate system. It can be calculated using the distance formula, which for a vector with endpoints (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) is given by ||v|| = √((x2 - x1)² + (y2 - y1)²). In this case, the vector connects the points (-21, 10) and (-21, -20).
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Coordinate System

A coordinate system is a two-dimensional plane defined by an x-axis (horizontal) and a y-axis (vertical). Each point in this system is represented by an ordered pair (x, y). Understanding how to locate points and interpret their coordinates is essential for analyzing vectors and their properties.
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Direction of Vectors

Vectors have both magnitude and direction. In this problem, it is stated that vectors u and v have the same direction, which implies they are parallel. This concept is crucial for understanding how to compare vectors and determine their relationships in terms of direction and magnitude.
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