Vectors and magnitude

Question

vector v - vector u= <15, -20>

Find the magnitude of vector ||vector v - vector u||. Find the exact value.

Does that mean that ||vector v - vector u||= sqrt of 15^2+(-20)^2. How would I graph this?

Answer 1

Hi Kimberly, You are correct. The magnitude of a vector is the sqrt(15²+(-20)²). You can graph it with a line (with an arrow on the end) that starts at the origin and ends at (15,-20) in the x,y plane. A vector has a magnitude and a direction. The magnitude is the length of the vector (or the line that you drew from (0,0) to (15,-20)).