Chapter 8: Problem 13
Find the magnitude and direction of the vector. $$ \langle 6,5\rangle $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
Magnitude: \( \sqrt{61} \); Direction: \( 39.81^\circ \).
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Vector
You are given the vector \( \langle 6, 5 \rangle \), which has an x-component of 6 and a y-component of 5. The task is to find its magnitude and direction.
02
Calculate the Magnitude
The magnitude of a vector \( \langle a, b \rangle \) is calculated using the formula \( \sqrt{a^2 + b^2} \). Substitute the given components into the formula: \[magnitude = \sqrt{6^2 + 5^2} = \sqrt{36 + 25} = \sqrt{61}\]
03
Calculate the Direction (Angle)
The direction of a vector is given by the angle \( \theta \) it makes with the positive x-axis. This can be calculated using the tangent function: \[ \tan \theta = \frac{b}{a} = \frac{5}{6} \] To find \( \theta \), compute the inverse tangent: \[ \theta = \tan^{-1} \left( \frac{5}{6} \right) \approx 39.81^\circ \]
04
Summarize the Results
You have found the magnitude and direction of the vector \( \langle 6, 5 \rangle \). The magnitude is \( \sqrt{61} \), and the direction is approximately \( 39.81^\circ \) from the positive x-axis.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Vector Components
Vectors, like our given vector \( \langle 6, 5 \rangle \), are mathematical objects defined by both a direction and a magnitude. They are often described using their components, which tell us how much the vector moves along each axis. For our vector, the components are:
- x-component: 6, which means the vector moves 6 units in the positive x-direction.
- y-component: 5, indicating the vector moves 5 units in the positive y-direction.
Magnitude Calculation
The magnitude of a vector is a measure of its length or size. To find the magnitude of a vector \( \langle a, b \rangle \), we use the Pythagorean theorem. This theorem emerges because a vector's x and y components create a right triangle where the vector is the hypotenuse. Here's how to calculate it:
- We start with the formula: \( \text{Magnitude} = \sqrt{a^2 + b^2} \).
- In our example, using \( a = 6 \) and \( b = 5 \), we substitute these values to get: \( \sqrt{6^2 + 5^2} \).
- Calculating further, we find \( \sqrt{36 + 25} = \sqrt{61} \).
- Thus, the magnitude of vector \( \langle 6, 5 \rangle \) is \( \sqrt{61} \), reflecting its length in space.
Angle with x-axis
Determining the angle a vector makes with the x-axis provides insights about the vector's direction. This angle, often denoted by \( \theta \), shows precisely how a vector is oriented relative to the horizontal axis.
- The formula used to find \( \theta \) is \( \tan \theta = \frac{b}{a} \), where \( b \) is the y-component and \( a \) is the x-component.
- For our vector \( \langle 6, 5 \rangle \), substitute \( b = 5 \) and \( a = 6 \) into the formula: \( \tan \theta = \frac{5}{6} \).
- To find \( \theta \), apply the inverse tangent function: \( \theta = \tan^{-1} \left( \frac{5}{6} \right) \).
- This calculation results in an angle of approximately \( 39.81^\circ \).