Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Vector Addition and Subtraction
Vector addition involves combining two vectors by adding their corresponding components. For example, if u = -2i + 3j and v = 6i - j, their sum u + v is calculated by adding the i components and the j components separately. Similarly, vector subtraction involves subtracting the components of one vector from another, which is essential for finding u - v in this problem.
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Magnitude of a Vector
The magnitude of a vector, denoted as ||u||, represents its length and is calculated using the formula ||u|| = √(x² + y²) for a vector u = xi + yj. In this question, we need to find the magnitudes of the vectors u + v and u - v to compute ||u + v||² and ||u - v||², which are the squares of their lengths.
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Properties of Scalars and Vectors
In vector mathematics, scalars are quantities that only have magnitude, while vectors have both magnitude and direction. The expression ||u + v||² - ||u - v||² involves calculating the difference between two scalar values derived from the magnitudes of the vectors. Understanding how to manipulate these quantities is crucial for solving the problem accurately.
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