# Vectors question

1. Jun 7, 2013

### stunner5000pt

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
As in the diagram.

2. Relevant equations
Cosine law
sine law

3. The attempt at a solution
if we do attempt the magnitudes of u and w and the angle between them 60 degrees, I can solve for the opposite side where v is supposed to be.
I calculated
$$|k \vec{v}|^2 = |u|^2 + |w|^2 - 2|u||w| \cos 60$$
when I calculate the above I got the value of the right side as square root 52
$$\sqrt{52} = \frac{\sqrt{52}}{7} |\vec{v}|$$

Would this mean that to get w as a linear combination of u and v, we simply can write

$$\vec{w} = \vec{u} - \frac{\sqrt{52}}{7} \vec{v}$$

is that correct?

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2. Jun 7, 2013

### verty

Think of this as a trig question: what are the component vectors of $\vec{w}$? Go from there.

3. Jun 7, 2013

### stunner5000pt

$$w_{x} = 8 \cos 60 \hat{i}$$
$$w_{y} = 8 \sin 60 \hat{j}$$

So of course x along the horizontal so
$$w_{x} = |u| - |v| \cos \theta$$
$$w_{y} = - |v| \sin \theta$$

But this will not yield exact answers when solved

4. Jun 7, 2013

### stunner5000pt

PS are we to assume that u and v are perpendicular? That would remove the need for the above

5. Jun 7, 2013

### haruspex

The diagram is a little rough, but it looks as though it is supposed to be a closed triangle. If so, the given data (angle and magnitudes) are irrelevant.

6. Jun 8, 2013

### verty

You have assumed that $\vec{u}$ is parallel to $\hat{j}$ and has the same orientation, but you shouldn't make these assumptions. However, the assumption that $\vec{u}$ and $\vec{v}$ are perpendicular is necessary to make any sense of the question, I think.