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# i and j are unit vectors along x- and y- axis respectively. What is the magnitude and direction of the vectors

Q 4. 22  $\hat i$ and $\hat j$ are unit vectors along x- and y- axis respectively. What is the magnitude and direction of the vectors $\hat i + \hat j$, and $\hat i - \hat j$−? What are the components of a vector$A=2\hat i +3 \hat j$ along the directions of $\hat i + \hat j$ and $\hat i - \hat j$? [You may use graphical method]

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Let A be a vector such that:-                 $\overrightarrow{A}\ =\ \widehat{i}\ +\ \widehat{j}$

Then the magnitude of vector A is given by   :            $\left | A \right |\ =\ \sqrt{1^2\ +\ 1^2}\ =\ \sqrt{2}$

Now let us assume that the angle made between vector A and x-axis is $\Theta$.

Then we have:-

$\Theta \ =\ \tan^{-1}\left ( \frac{1}{1} \right )\ =\ 45^{\circ}$

Similarly, let B be a vector such that:-       $\overrightarrow{B}\ =\ \widehat{i}\ -\ \widehat{j}$

The magnitude of vector B is     :                       $\left | B\right |\ =\ \sqrt{1^2\ +\ (-1)^2}\ =\ \sqrt{2}$

Let $\alpha$ be the angle between vector B and x-axis :

$\alpha \ =\ \tan^{-1}\left ( \frac{-1}{1} \right )\ =\ -45^{\circ}$

Now consider   $\overrightarrow{C}\ =\ 2\widehat{i}\ +\ 3\widehat{j}$ :-
Then the required components of a vector C along the directions of     is   :-     $=\ \frac{2+3}{\sqrt{2}}\ =\ \frac{5}{\sqrt{2}}$
and the required components of a vector C along the directions of    is    :-    $\frac{2-3}{\sqrt{2}}\ =\ \frac{-1}{\sqrt{2}}$

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