Video Transcript
Find the components of the vector 𝐯 shown on the grid of unit squares below.
We know that any vector in two dimensions can be given in terms of its 𝑥- and 𝑦-components. These components tell us how we get from the initial or start point to the terminal or endpoint. The 𝑥-component is the number of units moved in the horizontal direction where moving to the right is positive. The 𝑦-component is the number of units we move in the vertical direction where moving upward is positive and moving downward is negative.
In this question, we moved three units to the right and five units down. This means that the 𝑥-component is equal to three or positive three and the 𝑦-component is equal to negative five. The vector 𝐯 is therefore equal to three, negative five.
