The #x# component of a vector is 8.7 units, and its #y# component is 06.5 units. What is the magnitude?

1 Answer
Dec 1, 2015

The magnitude of the resultant is #~~"11 units"#.

Explanation:

Since one vector is on the x-axis and the other is on the y-axis, we can use a right triangle and the Pythagorean theorem to determine the magnitude of the resultant, which is the hypotenuse.

Pythagorean Theorem

#c^2=a^2+b^2#, where #a=8.7 and b=6.5#

#c^2=(8.7^2+6.5^2)#

Take the square root of both sides.

#c=sqrt(8.7^2+6.5^2)#

#c=10.8~~"11 units"# (rounded to two significant figures)

Note: The values for #a# and #b# could have been reversed with the same result.