What is the formula for magnitude and what exactly is it?

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SUMMARY

The formula for the magnitude of a vector is defined as the square root of the sum of the squares of its rectangular components. Specifically, if a vector has components vx, vy, and vz, its magnitude is calculated using the formula: sqrt(vx^2 + vy^2 + vz^2). This formula remains invariant under rotation of the coordinate axes, emphasizing the utility of vector representation in physics.

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  • Understanding of vector components in three-dimensional space
  • Familiarity with the Pythagorean theorem
  • Basic knowledge of coordinate systems
  • Concept of invariance in mathematical expressions
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what is the formula for magnitude and what exactly is it?
 
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You'll have to be more specific. Magnitude can mean a number of things in a number of contexts.
 


rachiegrl7 said:
what is the formula for magnitude and what exactly is it?

NickSauce is right. Narrowing the scope somewhat, however, the magnitude of a vector is its length. If the vector's rectangular components are given (say vx,vy,vz) then the vector magnitude is sqrt(vx^2+vy^2+vz^2). Note that if we rotate our coordinate axes about the system's Origin, the components may change. But the magnitude is the same in both cases. That's one reason why the expression of equations in vector form is so useful in physics.
 

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