Solved Exercises on Magnitude and Direction of

a Vector
Example 1.Calculate the magnitude and direction of the following vectors that are
in the items, assuming they start from the origin. a)v= (4, 4); b)v= (2, -4); v= (-
3,-3);v= (0, -4);
Solution:
Item a) v = (4, 4)
Let's graph our vector and from the graph we will make our calculations.
corresponding to the magnitude and direction:

Applying the Pythagorean theorem to calculate the magnitude of the vector:

And we proceed to calculate the angle, that is, the direction:

We have 45 degrees, if we want to express it in radians, this

would be:

What would be the solution to problem one?

Item b) v = (2, -4)

We will again graph the vector and perform the calculations.
Applying the Pythagorean theorem, we have that:

Now, calculating the angle or direction, we have:

But be careful, those -45° do not correspond to the section of the angle theta, but rather it is the
remaining section to complete the cycle, so as this vector is
find in the fourth quadrant, we will have to subtract 360°.

Converting to radians, we have:

Well, now let's look at the following example:

Item c) v = (-3, -3)

We graph again to realize in which quadrant our point is located.
vector and at the moment of calculating the direction, we have no problem.
Well, we proceed to calculate the magnitude or modulus of our vector, so this
it would give us the following:

Once the modulus is obtained, it is time to calculate the angle, that is, the direction.

But on this occasion we find ourselves with 45° in the third quadrant, which
What we will do is add 180° degrees.

Let's remember that this angle is the one that is in the third quadrant where the
The tangent function is positive. That's why we add.

We convert to radians.

Item d) v = (0, -4)

We made our corresponding graph.
If we observe, our coordinate in x = 0, so our theorem of
Pythagoras will make the calculation of the modulus very easy.

Now we calculate the direction

Ufff, here we encounter a detail, right? Well, division by zero is not defined.
defined, then we must make use of our common sense, it is enough to
observe where our address is, and we assume then that the angle
is 270°.
Solved Exercises on Magnitude and Direction of
a Vector
Example 1.-Calculate the magnitude and direction of the following vectors that are
in the sections, assuming they start from the origin. a)v= (4, 4); b)v= (2, -4);v= (-
3,-3);v= (0, -4);
Solution:
Item a) v = (4, 4)
We are going to graph our vector and from the graph we will make our calculations.
corresponding to the magnitude and direction:

Applying the Pythagorean theorem to calculate the magnitude of the vector:

And we proceed to calculate the angle, that is, the direction:

We have 45 degrees, if we want to express it in radians, this

it would be:

What would be the solution to problem one?

Item b) v = (2, -4)

Again we are going to graph the vector and perform the calculations
Applying the Pythagorean theorem, we have that:

Now, calculating the angle or direction, we have:

But be careful, those -45° do not correspond to the section of the angle theta, but rather it is the
remaining section to complete the cycle, then as this vector is
find in the fourth quadrant, we will have to subtract 360°.

Converting to radians, we have:

Well, now let's look at the following example:

Item c) v = (-3, -3)

We plot again, to realize in which quadrant our point is located.
vector and when calculating the direction, we should not have any problems.
Well, we proceed to calculate the magnitude or modulus of our vector, so this
it would give us the following:

Once the modulus is obtained, it is time to calculate the angle or direction.

But on this occasion we find ourselves with 45° in the third quadrant, which
we will add 180° degrees.

Let us remember that this angle is the one in the third quadrant where the
The tangent function is positive. That is why we add.

We convert to radians.

Item d) v = (0, -4)

We created our corresponding graph.
If we observe, our coordinate at x = 0, so our theorem of
Using Pythagoras to perform the calculation of the modulus will be very easy.

Now we calculate the direction.

Ufff, here we come across a detail, right? Well, division by zero is not allowed.
defined, then we must make use of our common sense, it is enough to
observe where our address is, and we assume then that the angle
it is 270°.

Problems with the direction of the vector

We could observe that there is an issue when we have the coordinate of the
(0, -b); since the arctangent is not defined for a zero
down, then the same happens for the case of (0, b), we only need to use
common sense to realize the outcome.
Algebraic Definition of a Vector
Well, just as we have been able to represent a vector through the definition
The geometry of a directed line segment from one point to another is vital to know.
that a vector in an xy plane is an ordered pair of real numbers (a,b).
What is referred to as components of a vector. For example, the previous case.
what we mentioned about the zero vector, its components would be (0, 0).
Well, let's imagine a vector that starts from the origin, meaning its initial point is at the
coordinates (0,0) and that the endpoint is in any part of the plane with
coordinates (a,b), then we would have the following in graph.

Formula to find the magnitude of a vector

Well, the way we find the magnitude of a vector is by
Based on the famous Pythagorean theorem, where we only need to know two sides.
of the right triangle (adjacent side and opposite side), two sides that are
form in the vector, having that data, we only apply our theorem of
Pythagoras, and we will be obtaining the magnitude.

Now for the case of the address.

Formula to find the direction of a vector

To find the direction, we do it based on the tangent trigonometric function.
since it again relates the opposite side and the adjacent side, in such a way
that we will have something like this:
It is important to remember that what we are going to obtain will be an expression in
radians, we will have to convert it to degrees. We will do this by means of the
conversion factor:

Well, now it's time to practice.

Solved Exercises on Magnitude and Direction

a Vector
Example 1.-Calculate the magnitude and direction of the following vectors that are
in the items, assuming they start from the origin. a)v= (4, 4); b)v= (2, -4);v= (-
3,-3);v= (0, -4);
Solution:
Clause a) v = (4, 4)
Let's graph our vector and from the graph we will do our calculations.
corresponding to the magnitude and direction:

Applying the Pythagorean theorem to calculate the magnitude of the vector:

And we proceed to calculate the angle, that is, the direction:

We have 45 degrees, if we want to express it in radians, this

it would be:

What would be the solution to problem one?

Item b) v = (2, -4)
We will again graph the vector and perform the calculations.

Applying the Pythagorean theorem, we have that:

Now, calculating the angle or direction, we have:

But be careful, those -45° do not correspond to the section of angle theta, but rather it is the
remaining section to complete the cycle, then as this vector is
find in the fourth quadrant, we will have to subtract 360°.

Converting to radians, we have:

Well, now let's look at the following example:

Item c) v = (-3, -3)

We re-graph to realize in which quadrant our is located.
vector and at the moment of calculating the direction, let us not have any problems.
Well, let's proceed to calculate the magnitude or modulus of our vector, so this
it would give us the following:

Once the modulus has been obtained, it is time to calculate the angle, that is, the direction.

But on this occasion we find ourselves with 45° in the third quadrant, which
we will add 180° degrees.

Let's remember that this angle is the one in the third quadrant where the
The tangent function is positive. That is why we add.

We convert to radians.

Item d) v = (0, -4)

We created our corresponding graph.
If we observe, our coordinate at x = 0, so our theorem of
Pythagoras will make it very easy to calculate the modulus.

Now we calculate the direction

Ufff, here we come across a detail, right? Well, division by zero is not allowed.
defined, then we must use our common sense, it is enough to
observe where our address is, and we assume then that the angle
It is 270°.

Problems with the direction of the vector

We could observe that there is a problem when we have the coordinate of the
next form: (0, -b); since the arc tangent is not defined for zero
down, then the same happens for the case of (0, b), we only need to use
common sense to realize the outcome.