Vector - sum of two vectors * some const

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the problem of expressing a vector <2, 3> as a linear combination of two other vectors <3, 2> and its orthogonal vector <-2, 3>. Participants are exploring the relationships between these vectors and the implications of their linear combinations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to solve for constants a and b by separating the components of the vectors. Some participants question the clarity of the problem statement and the method of reaching the vector <2, 3> from the origin, particularly regarding the right angle turn.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, attempting different methods such as Gaussian elimination to find solutions. There is an acknowledgment of potential misunderstandings regarding the problem's requirements, and some participants express uncertainty about the correctness of their approaches.

Contextual Notes

There are indications of confusion about the problem setup and the relationships between the vectors involved. The original poster and others are grappling with how to correctly interpret the requirements of the problem.

asdfmaster
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a*<3, 2> + b*<-2, 3> = <2, 3> - A, B?

Homework Statement


There exists a vector <2, 3>.
Said vector is the sum of two other vectors <3, 2> and the orthoginal to <3,2> (which I think is <-2, 3> right?)


Homework Equations


<2, 3> = a<3, 2> + b<-2, 3> where a, b are constants


The Attempt at a Solution


I tried solving the x and y separately: 2 = a*3 + b*-2 but there's many ways this can be done, none of which held true also for the y.
 
Last edited:
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Maybe I didn't describe it well enough. The problem is that I have a vector <2, 3> and I must get from the origin to (2, 3). I start moving parallel to <3, 2> and make a right angle turn. Where do I make the right angle turn?
 
EDIT:
I take back the above matrix, which I am now deleting. The system you'll need to solve is

[tex] \begin{align*}<br /> 2x + 3y &= 13\\<br /> 2x - 3y &= 0<br /> \end{align*}[/tex]

Which can be solved via elimination.
 
Last edited:
Well, I just tried elimination using gaussian elimination

Code:
Starting matrix:
2  3    13
2 -3    0

to
2  3    13
0 -6   13

to
1  3/2    13/2
0  1      13/-6

to
1  0    39/4
0  1    13/-6

so I end up with x = 39/4 and y=13/-6
But I asked and he told me that it wasn't correct.
 
asdfmaster said:
Well, I just tried elimination using gaussian elimination

Code:
Starting matrix:
2  3    13
2 -3    0

to
2  3    13
0 -6   13

to
1  3/2    13/2
0  1      13/-6

to
1  0    39/4
0  1    13/-6

so I end up with x = 39/4 and y=13/-6
But I asked and he told me that it wasn't correct.

Has he given you the correct answer? Maybe I don't understand the question completely.
 

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