Chapter 13: Problem 47
For two-dimensional vectors \(\vec{a}\) and \(\vec{b},\) if \(\|\vec{a}\|=2\) and \(\|\vec{b}\|=4,\) find \(\|\vec{a}+\vec{b}\|\) for the given \(\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b}\) $$\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b}=-8$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The magnitude of \(\vec{a} + \vec{b}\) is 2.
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Magnitude Formula
To find the magnitude of the sum of two vectors, we use the formula \[\|\vec{a} + \vec{b}\| = \sqrt{\|\vec{a}\|^2 + \|\vec{b}\|^2 + 2\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b}}.\]
02
Calculate \(\|\vec{a}\|^2\) and \(\|\vec{b}\|^2\)
\[\|\vec{a}\|^2 = 2^2 = 4.\] \[\|\vec{b}\|^2 = 4^2 = 16.\] We have calculated the squares of the magnitudes.
03
Substitute Values into the Magnitude Formula
Insert the known values into the magnitude formula: \[\|\vec{a} + \vec{b}\| = \sqrt{4 + 16 + 2(-8)}.\]
04
Simplify Inside the Square Root
Simplify the expression under the square root: \[4 + 16 + 2(-8) = 20 - 16 = 4.\]
05
Find the Magnitude
Calculate the square root to find the magnitude: \[\|\vec{a} + \vec{b}\| = \sqrt{4} = 2.\]
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Magnitude of a Vector
The magnitude of a vector, often called its length or norm, measures how long the vector is, irrespective of its direction. In a two-dimensional space, if you have a vector \( \vec{v} = (x, y) \), the magnitude is represented by \( \|\vec{v}\| \). Calculating the magnitude involves the Pythagorean theorem.
- You square the component values \((x^2 + y^2)\).
- Add them together.
- Then take the square root to find the overall length: \( \|\vec{v}\| = \sqrt{x^2 + y^2} \).
Dot Product
The dot product is a key concept in vector algebra that produces a scalar value from two vectors. This scalar can help us understand the geometric relationship between the vectors. For two vectors \( \vec{a} = (a_1, a_2) \) and \( \vec{b} = (b_1, b_2) \), the dot product is computed as:
- \( \vec{a} \cdot \vec{b} = a_1b_1 + a_2b_2 \)
Vector Algebra
Vector algebra involves operations that combine multiple vectors to get another vector. These operations play a crucial role in solving geometry and physics problems and include addition, subtraction, and scaling of vectors.
- Addition: Adding vectors results in a new vector which combines their individual effects. If \( \vec{a} = (x_1, y_1) \) and \( \vec{b} = (x_2, y_2) \), then \( \vec{a} + \vec{b} = (x_1 + x_2, y_1 + y_2) \).
- Magnitude of the Sum: The formula to find the magnitude of the sum of two vectors takes into consideration both their individual magnitudes and their dot product: \( \|\vec{a} + \vec{b}\| = \sqrt{\|\vec{a}\|^2 + \|\vec{b}\|^2 + 2\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b}} \).
Two-dimensional Vectors
Two-dimensional vectors are fundamental in describing motions and forces on a plane. They have an x (horizontal) and a y (vertical) component, making them easy to visualize and useful for many applications in physics and engineering.
- Represented as \( \vec{v} = (x, y) \), they can point in any direction on a flat surface.
- They help describe positions, velocities, and forces that have both magnitude and direction.