the_d said:I have a question. Vector A has x and y components of -20cm and 15 cm, respectively; vector B has x and y components of 10.9cm and -20 cm, respectively. If A - B + 3C = 0, what is the x component of C?
I found out that C = -0.73 cm but that's not what the question is asking.
A vector's x component is the magnitude of the vector in the horizontal direction. It represents the displacement of the vector along the x-axis.
Understanding vector x components is important because it allows us to break down a vector into its horizontal and vertical components, making it easier to solve problems involving vector addition and subtraction.
To calculate a vector's x component, you can use the formula x = magnitude * cos(theta), where theta is the angle between the vector and the x-axis. Alternatively, you can use the Pythagorean theorem to find the x component if you have the vector's magnitude and its y component.
A negative x component means that the vector is pointing in the negative x direction, or to the left. This can also be interpreted as the vector having a negative horizontal displacement.
No, a vector's x component cannot be greater than its magnitude. The maximum value of a vector's x component is equal to the magnitude of the vector itself.