Chapter 9: Problem 40
Find the magnitude and direction angle of the vector \(\boldsymbol{v}\). $$\mathbf{v}=4 \mathbf{i}-8 \mathbf{j}$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
Answer: The magnitude of the vector is \(4\sqrt{5}\), and its direction angle is approximately \(296.6^\circ\).
Step by step solution
01
Find the magnitude of the vector
To find the magnitude of the vector \(\mathbf{v}=4 \mathbf{i}-8 \mathbf{j}\), we will use the Pythagorean theorem:
$$\|\mathbf{v}\| = \sqrt{(4^2) + (-8^2)} = \sqrt{16 + 64} = \sqrt{80} = 4\sqrt{5}$$
So, the magnitude of the vector is \(4\sqrt{5}.\)
02
Find the direction angle of the vector
To find the direction angle \(\theta\) of the vector \(\mathbf{v}=4 \mathbf{i}-8 \mathbf{j}\), we will use the inverse tangent function:
$$\theta = \tan^{-1}\left(\frac{-8}{4}\right) = \tan^{-1}(-2)$$
To find the angle in the correct quadrant, as our vector has a positive x-component and a negative y-component, we must remember to adjust the result based on the polar coordinates and the fact that the vector is pointing in the fourth quadrant. Using a calculator, we have:
$$\tan^{-1}(-2) \approx -63.4^\circ$$
To adjust our result into the fourth quadrant, we can add 360 degrees:
$$-63.4^\circ + 360^\circ = 296.6^\circ$$
Thus, the direction angle of the vector is approximately \(296.6^\circ\).
03
Present the final answer
The magnitude and direction angle of the vector \(\mathbf{v}=4 \mathbf{i}-8 \mathbf{j}\) are as follows:
Magnitude: \(4\sqrt{5}\)
Direction angle: \(296.6^\circ\)
Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!
-
Full Textbook Solutions
Get detailed explanations and key concepts
-
Unlimited Al creation
Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...
-
Ads-free access
To over 500 millions flashcards
-
Money-back guarantee
We refund you if you fail your exam.
Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!
Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Magnitude of a Vector
Vectors are entities that have both magnitude and direction. Understanding the magnitude of a vector is crucial in vector analysis, as it represents the length or the size of the vector. In this exercise, we have the vector \( \mathbf{v} = 4 \mathbf{i} - 8 \mathbf{j} \).
To find the magnitude, we employ the formula:
To find the magnitude, we employ the formula:
- \( \|\mathbf{v}\| = \sqrt{(4^2) + (-8^2)} \)
- This results in \( \sqrt{16 + 64} = \sqrt{80} = 4\sqrt{5} \)
Direction Angle
The direction angle of a vector indicates its orientation with respect to a reference line, often the positive x-axis. For the vector \( \mathbf{v} = 4 \mathbf{i} - 8 \mathbf{j} \), we determine the angle by analyzing the components. The vector is positioned in the fourth quadrant because it has a positive x-component (4) and a negative y-component (-8).
We use the inverse tangent function to find the angle relative to the x-axis:
We use the inverse tangent function to find the angle relative to the x-axis:
- \( \theta = \tan^{-1}\left(\frac{-8}{4}\right) = \tan^{-1}(-2) \)
- Typically, \( \tan^{-1}(-2) \approx -63.4^\circ \)
Pythagorean Theorem
The Pythagorean theorem is a fundamental principle often used to calculate vector magnitudes. It states that in a right-angled triangle, the square of the hypotenuse's length is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides. In vector terms, the components \( 4 \) and \( -8 \) are the sides, and the vector's magnitude is the hypotenuse.
The formula is:
The formula is:
- \( \|\mathbf{v}\| = \sqrt{(x^2) + (y^2)} \)
- For \( \mathbf{v} = 4 \mathbf{i} - 8 \mathbf{j} \), \( \sqrt{(4^2) + (-8^2)} \)
- This gives the magnitude \( \sqrt{80} = 4\sqrt{5} \)
Inverse Tangent Function
The inverse tangent function, also known as \( \tan^{-1} \), is used to calculate the angle whose tangent is a given number. It's particularly useful in vector analysis to find the angle between a vector and the x-axis. For the vector \( \mathbf{v} = 4 \mathbf{i} - 8 \mathbf{j} \), we calculate as follows:
- \( \tan^{-1}\left(\frac{-8}{4}\right) = \tan^{-1}(-2) \)
- The angle \( \theta \approx -63.4^\circ \) corresponds with the backward sweep of the tangent across the x-axis