What are the trig equations we use to find a vector's x and y components, and it's directional angle?
Any vector directed in two dimensions can be thought of having an influence in two different directions, i.e., it can be thought of having two parts, each part of a 2-dimensional vector is known as a component.
For example, in the vector , the x-axis (horizontal) component is 5 and y-axis (vertical) component is 2.
Consider a vector as shown below,
Draw a perpendicular from tip of vector on x-axis, then is the projection of on x-axis. Similarly, is the projection of on y-axis.
Magnitude of tells how much of much exists in x-direction and magnitude of tells how much of exists in y-direction.
Also, graphically we have =+ and these three vectors form a right angle triangle.
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