How to use this applet:
1. Click on the first box beneath the heading 'Vector 1'.
Here you can enter a positive or negative whole number which is not less than -10 and not greater than +10. Decimals, fractions or numbers not between +10 and -10 will not work.
Do the same for the second box beneath 'Vector 1' and the two boxes beneath 'Vector 2'. You must enter a value in all boxes (0 is a valid value).
2.When satisfied with the values you have entered, press the Set button.
If you have entered in valid values, two vectors will appear on the graph representing your two vectors. If you have not entered valid values press the Reset button and re-enter the correct values in the boxes.
3.Pressing the Go button will bring up the Resultant vector. This will be drawn in red.
4.To enter new values and to clear the graph, press the Reset button.
Notes on the maths used in the applet:
Consider the two vectors
[(a)i + (b)j] and [(c)i + (d)j],
where a, b, c, and d are variables which can be positive or negative real numbers.
When represented graphically, the co-efficient of i is represented on the x-axis and the co-efficient of j is represented on the y-axis.
The first of these two vectors would be represented on a graph by a straight line drawn from the origin (0, 0) to the point (a, b).
Likewise the second of these two vectors would be represented by a straight line drawn from the origin (0, 0) to the point (c, d).
To add these two vectors we use the formula
[(a)i + (b)j] + [(c)i + (d)j] =
[(a + c)i + (b + d)j].
The addition of these two vectors will create a new vector, the resultant. The resultant vector would be represented on the graph by a straight line from the origin (0, 0) to the point ((a+c), (b+d)).
