Answer:
A vector can be written as:
(R, θ)
Where R is the magnitude, in this case, we know that the magnitude of the displacement is 5m
Then:
R = 5m
and θ defines the direction, it's an angle measured from the positive x-axis.
(In the image, θ would be the angle located at the point A)
Now, if you look at the image, you can see a triangle rectangle.
Where the adjacent cathetus has a length of 4,
the opposite cathetus has a length of 3 units
the hypotenuse has a length of 5 units.
So we can use any trigonometric rule to find the value of θ, like:
sin(θ) = (opposite cathetus)/hypotenuse
Then:
sin(θ) = 3m/5m
Now we can use the inverse sin function, Asin(x), in both sides
Asin( sin(θ)) = θ = Asin( 3/5) = 36.87°
then the vector is:
(5m, 36.87°)
Now, if we define the positive y-axis as the North, and the positive x-axis as the East.
This vector would point at 36.87° North of East.
(or almost Northeast)
