Math Problem Statement

A postal employee drives a delivery truck along the route shown in figure below. Determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant by drawing scale diagram and component method

Solution

To solve this problem, let's break it down step by step using the component method. The key steps are:

  1. Analyze the Problem: We'll need the route information (distances and angles) from the figure, but since I don't have access to the image, I’ll walk you through how to handle this kind of problem generally.

  2. Decompose the Directions: The delivery truck might follow paths in multiple directions. For example, a route might be divided into segments (north, east, south, west, or at angles). You break down each segment into horizontal (x) and vertical (y) components.

  3. Add the Components: Once each segment has been decomposed into xx and yy components, you sum them up to find the net displacement along each axis.

  4. Find the Resultant: The magnitude of the resultant vector is given by R=(Rx2+Ry2)R = \sqrt{(R_x^2 + R_y^2)}, where RxR_x and RyR_y are the sum of the horizontal and vertical components.

  5. Determine the Direction: The direction (angle) of the resultant vector can be found using the formula θ=tan1(RyRx)\theta = \tan^{-1} \left( \frac{R_y}{R_x} \right).

If you can upload the image of the route or give the details about the angles and distances involved, I can guide you through the exact numbers. Alternatively, you could also draw a scale diagram on paper using a protractor and ruler, representing each segment as a vector, and then measure the resultant vector’s magnitude and direction directly.


If you have any details to share or a picture to upload, feel free to provide it. In the meantime, here are some related questions:

  1. How would you break a vector at 30 degrees to the horizontal into components?
  2. What happens to the resultant vector when two displacement vectors are added in opposite directions?
  3. Can the magnitude of the resultant vector ever be less than the magnitude of any of the individual vectors?
  4. How do vector diagrams differ from scalar diagrams in representing physical quantities?
  5. What role does the Pythagorean theorem play in calculating resultant magnitudes?

Tip: Always use the proper units (e.g., meters, kilometers) in both the calculation and the final answer to ensure consistency.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Vector Decomposition
Vector Addition
Trigonometry

Formulas

R = √(R_x^2 + R_y^2) - Magnitude of the resultant vector
θ = tan⁻¹(R_y / R_x) - Direction of the resultant vector

Theorems

Pythagorean Theorem
Trigonometric Identities

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 9-12