# Another vector ?

1. Sep 7, 2008

### 2slowtogofast

if you know the magnitude and angle of vector A and you are given the magnitude of vector (a+b) how would you go about find the mag and angle for vector b

2. Sep 7, 2008

### edziura

You can't. Draw a vector triangle. If you knew the angle BETWEEN A and B and the other information, you would have a SAS triangle situation and this could be solved. If you only have the direction of A (the angle, as you put it), the solution is indeterminant.

3. Sep 7, 2008

### LowlyPion

Looked at another way, the locus of the end of the result vector describes a circle about the base of the Vector A whose radius is the magnitude. You need some additional piece of information to determine a unique result vector.

Edit: The previous description presumes the angle of A is with the coordinate system. Now if you know the angle between A and B, if that is the statement of the problem, then you still don't have sufficient information because all you may know then is the intersection along that direction with the circular locus of the magnitude.

Last edited: Sep 7, 2008