Can Vectors with an angle 180(degrees+) have a negative magnitude?

SaltyBriefs

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Can vectors with 180+(degrees) have a negative magnitude? I'm trying to find components of a vector that is going 260 km, 48 (degrees) south of east. So I'm confused whether the 260 is positive or not because of the -48 degrees.


2. Relevant equations
([itex]\vec{V}[/itex]) (sin[itex]\theta[/itex])
([itex]\vec{V}[/itex]) (cos[itex]\theta[/itex])

3. The attempt at a solution
(-260km)(sin(48)) or (260km)(sin(48)) =[itex]\vec{V}[/itex][itex]_{y}[/itex]

(-260km)(cos(48)) or (260km)(cos(48)) =[itex]\vec{V}[/itex][itex]_{x}[/itex]

Which one??

WatermelonPig

sin(x) = -sin(-x)

cos(x) = cos(-x)

Hope that helps.

Just use the convention that counterclockwise is postive and clockwise is negative in terms of measuring an angle.

SaltyBriefs

Thank you this helped so much! But um just a quick question, why is sin negative? O.o

SaltyBriefs

Oh wait is this from cos, sin
and since it is in the 4th quadrant, y is negative (sin) and x is positive (cos)