Question

How to calculate a magnitude ​

Answer 1

Answer:

1.) Determine the components of the vector. Every vector can be numerically represented in the Cartesian coordinate system with a horizontal (x-axis) and vertical (y-axis) component. It is written as an order pair

v = < x, y>

2.) Draw a vector triangle. When you draw the horizontal and vertical components, you end up with a right triangle. The magnitude of the vector is equal to the hypotenuse of the triangle so you can use the Pythagorean theorem to calculate it.

3.) Rearrange the Pythagorean theorem to calculate the magnitude. The Pythagorean theorem is

A2 + B2 = C2.

“A” and “B” are the horizontal and vertical components of the triangle while “C” is the hypotenuse. Since the vector is the hypotenuse you want to solve for “C”.

4.) Solve for the magnitude. Using the equation above, you can plug in the numbers of the ordered pair of the vector to solve for the magnitude.