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Vector Question

  1. Jan 13, 2009 #1
    1. Given A = x^2y.ax — yz.ay + yz^2.az, determine:
    (a) The magnitude of A at point T(2, -1,3)
    (b) The distance vector from T to 5 if S is 5.6 units away from T and in the same direction
    as A at T
    (c) The position vector of S


    (a) well for this one just plug in the point T, and solve for A.

    (b) How do i calculate this point :S??????????????

    (c) well once i find the points S then i can just take that point from the origin to it and thats the position vector. Im just confused about b.
  2. jcsd
  3. Jan 14, 2009 #2


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    Homework Helper

    b) A vector is entirely determined by its magnitude and direction. You are given he magnitude, and you're told the direction, though indirectly. So what you need to do is to figure out the direction by normalising what you are given ie. make it of magnitude 1. Then you should see what to do next.

    c)Follows from b.
  4. Jan 14, 2009 #3
    so basically the direction that b refers to is the direction of the distance vector it is asking about. The direction is not of the position vector s? (originally i though the position vector s was in the direction of a)...
  5. Jan 15, 2009 #4


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    Homework Helper

    Yes you're right. The latter statement is mistaken.
    Don't see where you got that from. Remember that A isn't a vector but a vector function, which means it gives you a direction after you input the coordinate values.

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