Table of contents

0. Review of College Algebra4h 43m
1. Measuring Angles40m
2. Trigonometric Functions on Right Triangles2h 5m
3. Unit Circle1h 19m
4. Graphing Trigonometric Functions1h 19m
5. Inverse Trigonometric Functions and Basic Trigonometric Equations1h 41m
6. Trigonometric Identities and More Equations2h 34m
7. Non-Right Triangles1h 38m
8. Vectors2h 25m
9. Polar Equations2h 5m
10. Parametric Equations1h 6m
11. Graphing Complex Numbers1h 7m

8. Vectors

Geometric Vectors

Trigonometry

8. Vectors

Geometric Vectors

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2:25 minutes

Problem 1

Textbook Question

In Exercises 1–4, u and v have the same direction. In each exercise:Is u = v? Explain.

Verified step by step guidance

insert step 1: Understand that vectors u and v having the same direction means they are scalar multiples of each other.

insert step 2: Express vector u as u = k * v, where k is a scalar.

insert step 3: Determine if the scalar k is equal to 1. If k = 1, then u = v.

insert step 4: If k is not equal to 1, then u is not equal to v, even though they have the same direction.

insert step 5: Conclude that for u to be equal to v, they must not only have the same direction but also the same magnitude, which means k must be 1.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Vector Direction

In trigonometry and vector analysis, the direction of a vector is defined by the angle it makes with a reference axis. Two vectors are said to have the same direction if they point in the same way, regardless of their magnitudes. This concept is crucial for understanding vector equality and operations involving vectors.

Vector Equality

Two vectors are considered equal if they have the same magnitude and direction. This means that even if two vectors are represented differently (e.g., different lengths), they can still be equal if they point in the same direction. Understanding this concept is essential for answering questions about the relationship between vectors u and v.

Scalar Multiplication

Scalar multiplication involves multiplying a vector by a scalar (a real number), which changes the magnitude of the vector but not its direction. If vectors u and v have the same direction, one can be expressed as a scalar multiple of the other. This relationship is key to determining whether u equals v in terms of direction and magnitude.