- #1
ElijahRockers
Gold Member
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Homework Statement
Let [itex]\hat r = <x_r , y_r>[/itex] and [itex]\hat\theta = <x_\theta , y_\theta>[/itex]
Draw these vectors at points (x,y) = (1,0), (2,0), (3,0), (1,1), (0,1), (0,2).
Here is the entire http://www.math.tamu.edu/~vargo/courses/251/HW5.pdf assignment so you can see what context it is in.
Our teacher uses two distinct methods. He gives us questions from the book that we do online, and then his written assignments are generally questions he makes up that are seemingly meant to get us to think outside the box.
This assignment has everyone pretty much stumped, and he's extended it another week.
The Attempt at a Solution
I assume by [itex]\hat r[/itex] he's talking about a unit vector, r. When he says [itex]x_r[/itex], to me, that means the partial of x with respect to r, which would be simply cos(theta).
But when I start thinking about it, it just doesn't seem to make any sense to me.
I am familiar with radial unit vectors and angular unit vectors (which he mentions in a later question) from my calculus based physics class, but I can't seem to make the connection from what he's trying to show us, to what I learned in physics.
I'm trying to understand the process he's trying to have us use to get there.