Vector Addition: Components with Given Directions and Magnitudes

[aatari]

Homework Statement

Hi, can you guys please see if my solution is correct. Any feedback would be awesome.

Using components determine the sum of a + b if a = 3 m [N 30° W] and b = 2 m [N 10° E].

Homework Equations

N/A

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[Doc Al]

Looks good!

 

[berkeman]

I agree that it looks good, but I got a slightly different answer than you for the magnitude (not the 3.00 that you got). Try again, and be consistent with the number of significant figures you carry along. I like to do it with the same numbers carried along in my calculator for the full calculation, instead of writing them down and then using the rounded-off numbers that I've written down for the next part of the calculation...

 

[Doc Al]

(not the 3.00 that you got)

Rounded to 2 sig figs, I get the answer posted by aatari.

 

[berkeman]

True, and I guess in fairness the problem statement only had 1 significant figure for the magnitudes in the problem statement (at least if the OP copied the problem exactly)...