Expressing Vector Values in Terms of a, b, and c

In summary, the conversation discusses how to express various vector quantities in terms of a, b, and c. The equations of the parallelogram, triangle, and polygon laws are used to help find the values of the vectors. The final answer for RT is a+b+c, and the process for finding ST and SR is left as an exercise for the student.
  • #1
tweety1234
112
0

Homework Statement




ST= 2TP. If [tex] \overrightarrow{TP}=a[/tex] , [tex] \overrightarrow{PQ} = b [/tex] and [tex] \overrightarrow {QR} = C [/tex] express in terms of a, b and c

a) [tex] \overrightarrow{RT} [/tex]

b) [tex] \overrightarrow{ST} [/tex]

c [tex] \overrightarrow{SR} [/tex]

http://www.mathhelpforum.com/math-help/attachments/advanced-applied-math/9244d1230495606-mechanics-help-untitled.jpg

can anyone help me with this question please, I have attached the diagram

thank you!

Homework Equations

 
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  • #2
Join R to T and you'll have an enclosed polygon and if all the vector arrows follow the same direction, the resultant is zero.

so TP+ PQ+ QR + RT=0. You can now find RT.

(Triangle law, parallelogram law, polygon law)
 
  • #3
rock.freak667 said:
Join R to T and you'll have an enclosed polygon and if all the vector arrows follow the same direction, the resultant is zero.

so TP+ PQ+ QR + RT=0. You can now find RT.

(Triangle law, parallelogram law, polygon law)

so does RT = a+b+c ?

and how do i find ST and SR?
 
  • #4
tweety1234 said:
so does RT = a+b+c ?

No … TR = a+b+c.
 
  • #5
tiny-tim said:
No … TR = a+b+c.

okay , can you explain that? what does RT equal?
 
  • #6
tweety1234 said:
okay , can you explain that? what does RT equal?

ok … TR is the vector from T to R …

you can either go direct,

or you can go any indirect route (that's the way "vector addition" works), provided the arrows follow you all the way.

If you go from R to T, the arrows don't follow you.

If you go from T to R, they do. :smile:
 

1. What is the purpose of expressing vector values in terms of a, b, and c?

The purpose of expressing vector values in terms of a, b, and c is to break down a vector into its component parts. This allows for a better understanding of the direction and magnitude of the vector, as well as making it easier to perform calculations and manipulations.

2. How do you express a vector in terms of a, b, and c?

To express a vector in terms of a, b, and c, you need to determine the individual components of the vector in each direction. These components are represented by the values of a, b, and c, which correspond to the x, y, and z axes, respectively. The vector can then be written as ai + bj + ck, where i, j, and k are unit vectors in the x, y, and z directions.

3. What is the significance of a, b, and c in vector notation?

The values of a, b, and c in vector notation represent the magnitude of the vector in each direction. This allows for a more precise description of the vector's direction and magnitude, compared to just using the vector's coordinates.

4. Can any vector be expressed in terms of a, b, and c?

Yes, any vector can be expressed in terms of a, b, and c. This is because a, b, and c represent the components of a vector in a specific coordinate system, and any vector can be broken down into its components in that system.

5. How do you determine the values of a, b, and c for a given vector?

The values of a, b, and c can be determined by using the Pythagorean theorem and trigonometric functions. The magnitude of the vector can be found using the formula √(a^2 + b^2 + c^2), and the direction of the vector can be found using the inverse tangent function with the values of a, b, and c as the opposite, adjacent, and hypotenuse sides of a right triangle, respectively.

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