Solving Vector Addition Without Angle Measurements

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around solving vector addition problems without angle measurements. Participants explore various methods and information that may be available to assist in these calculations, focusing on both theoretical understanding and practical application.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion about solving vector addition problems without angle measurements and requests guidance.
  • Another participant asks if visual information or symbolic representations of the vectors are provided, suggesting that drawing the vectors may help.
  • A different participant describes vector addition in terms of right triangles, proposing that additional information might be given instead of angles.
  • One participant provides formulas for vector addition, subtraction, and dot product, presenting a mathematical approach to the problem.
  • Another participant inquires about the specific information available to the original poster, emphasizing the need for clarity on the given data.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus, as multiple approaches and interpretations of the problem are presented. The discussion remains open-ended with various viewpoints on how to tackle the issue.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not specified the exact nature of the vectors or the information provided, leading to uncertainty about the assumptions and definitions involved in the discussion.

MrsAKG
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In class today we had a brief lesson on vector addition. I understand how to calculate the resultant when given a magnitude and angle measurent for each vector, but my teacher gave me no other examples. I have tons of homework problems that do not give me this information, but I am expected to solve. Can you please give me a brief overview of how to solve a vector addition problem without having angle measurements.
 
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Welcome to PF!
Are you given visual information as to how the vectors you're supposed to add looks like?
In particular, are you supposed to draw how the sum of the two vectors look like?

Or:
Have you been given the vectors in the symbolic form:
Vector 1: (a,b) Vector 2 (c,d) where a,b,c,d are numbers?
 
MrsAKG said:
In class today we had a brief lesson on vector addition. I understand how to calculate the resultant when given a magnitude and angle measurent for each vector, but my teacher gave me no other examples. I have tons of homework problems that do not give me this information, but I am expected to solve. Can you please give me a brief overview of how to solve a vector addition problem without having angle measurements.

A vector is basically a right triangle, you hook one triangle on to the end of the other one to add them. Perhaps your teacher, instead of giving you the adjacent angle and hypotenus, gave you two other bits of information?
 
Vector Addition: If you have vector V(a,b,c), and vector B(d,e,f). V + B = (a+d,b+e,c+f)

Vector Subtraction: If you have vector V(a,b,c), and vector B(d,e,f). V - B = (a-d,b-e,c-f)

Dot Product:
V dot B = a*d+b*e+c*f
 
What information ARE you given?
 

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