The vectors can be drawn in a path, or tail-to-tail.
The
size
of the
vector sum
can be found using the Pythagorean Theorem:
x
2
= 3
2
+ 4
2
x
2
= 9 + 16
x
2
= 25
x = 5
The
angle
of the
vector sum
can be found using the trigonometric ratio
tan
:
tan
= 4/3 = 1.333...
= 53 deg.
(Notice that the angle being found is the same in both diagrams, as is the fraction for
tan
).
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= 4/3 = 1.333...= 53 deg.