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How do you find the magnitude and direction of the vector (4, 4)?

To find the magnitude and direction of the vector (4,4)(4, 4), we will utilize Pythagoras’ theorem and some basic principles of trigonometry.

Step 1: Calculate the Magnitude of the Vector

The magnitude of a vector (x,y)(x, y) is calculated using the formula:

Magnitude=x2+y2\text{Magnitude} = \sqrt{x^2 + y^2}

For the vector (4,4)(4, 4), we substitute x=4x = 4 and y=4y = 4 into the formula:

Magnitude=42+42=16+16=32=42\text{Magnitude} = \sqrt{4^2 + 4^2} = \sqrt{16 + 16} = \sqrt{32} = 4\sqrt{2}

Thus, the magnitude of the vector (4,4)(4, 4) is 424\sqrt{2}.

Step 2: Determine the Direction of the Vector

The direction of a vector is typically expressed as the angle θ\theta that it forms with the positive x-axis. We can find this angle using the tangent function, which relates the angle to the ratio of the y-component to the x-component of the vector:

tanθ=yx\tan \theta = \frac{y}{x}

For the vector (4,4)(4, 4), this relationship is:

tanθ=44=1\tan \theta = \frac{4}{4} = 1

To find θ\theta, we take the inverse tangent (or arctan) of 11:

θ=tan1(1)\theta = \tan^{-1}(1)

In degrees, tan1(1)\tan^{-1}(1) equals 4545^\circ. Therefore, the direction of the vector (4,4)(4, 4) is 4545^\circ from the positive x-axis.

Summary

In conclusion, the magnitude of the vector (4,4)(4, 4) is 424\sqrt{2}, and its direction is 4545^\circ relative to the positive x-axis.

Answered by: Prof. David Martin
A-Level Physics Tutor
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