Making Vector Addition programmeable

[KingNothing]

Hello...I really want to make a program that can do vector addition and subtraction, given two or more vectors. The problem is, I'm not sure of the math that would be needed to do it. See, I want the person to be able to enter two or more vectors with a magnitude (length) and angle (with 0 degrees being 'up' and 90 degrees being 'right'). I'm struggling a bit with the actual math that needs to be done. I can do it on paper just fine, because the process of taking a bearing of 1125 degrees and making it 45, etc, things of this nature - is logical. But programs don't understand logic. That's where I hit the roadblock.

I don't think you need to know any programming whatsoever to answer this (granted you know the answer)...just be able to say things like:

1. Sbtract angle a from angle b, save to variable a.

etcetera. I'd a little fuzzy on the part of figuring out how to "get two vectors together" to be prepared to use the law of cosines and whatnot to figure the resultant out. Can you help?

 

[chroot]

Convert each of the vectors to components in some basis, then add the components.

- Warren

 

[tacman]

Sure, I'd be happy to help with your project! Vector addition and subtraction can definitely be programmed, and it's a great way to practice your math and programming skills. Here are a few tips to get you started:

1. First, you'll need to understand the basics of vectors and vector operations. This includes understanding how to represent a vector using magnitude and direction (angle), how to add and subtract vectors, and how to use the law of cosines to find the resultant vector.

2. Once you have a solid understanding of vector operations, you can start thinking about how to translate these operations into code. This will involve breaking down each step of the process into smaller, more manageable tasks. For example, to add two vectors, you'll need to first convert their magnitudes and angles into x and y components, then add the x components together and the y components together, and finally convert the resulting x and y components back into a magnitude and angle.

3. It may be helpful to sketch out the steps on paper first, to make sure you have a clear understanding of what needs to be done before diving into the code. You can also use pseudocode (a simplified version of code) to plan out your program before writing actual code.

4. As for the specific steps you mentioned, here are a few suggestions:

- To subtract angle a from angle b, you can use the formula: result = b - a. Keep in mind that angles in programming are usually measured in radians, so you may need to convert from degrees to radians first.
- To "get two vectors together", you'll need to prompt the user to input the magnitude and angle for each vector. Then, you can store these values in variables and use them in your calculations.
- To use the law of cosines to find the resultant vector, you'll need to first convert the magnitudes and angles of the two vectors into x and y components, then use the law of cosines formula: c^2 = a^2 + b^2 - 2ab*cos(C), where c is the magnitude of the resultant vector, a and b are the magnitudes of the two vectors, and C is the angle between them. Once you have the magnitude of the resultant, you can use inverse trigonometric functions to find the angle.

I hope this helps get you started on your project! Remember to break down the problem into smaller, manageable steps and don't be afraid to ask for