Example
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Vector A has a magnitude of 9 and points due north, vector B has a magnitude of 3 and points due north, and vector C has a magnitude of 5 and points due west. What is the magnitude of the resultant vector, A + B + C? | |
First, add the two parallel vectors, A and B. Because they are parallel, this is a simple matter of straightforward addition: 9 + 3 = 12. So the vector A + B has a magnitude of 12 and points due north. Next, add A + B to C. These two vectors are perpendicular, so apply the Pythagorean Theorem:
The sum of the three vectors has a magnitude of 13. Though a little more time-consuming, adding three vectors is just as simple as adding two
