Question Video: Expressing a Vector in Cartesian Coordinates Mathematics • First Year of Secondary School

Video Transcript

Given that vector 𝚨 is equal to five 𝐢 minus seven 𝐣, write vector 𝚨 in Cartesian coordinates.

When dealing with vectors in two dimensions, we recall that vectors 𝐢 and 𝐣 are unit vectors in the directions 𝑜𝑥 and 𝑜𝑦. If we are given any point 𝑃 with coordinates 𝑥𝑦, then vector 𝐏 is equal to 𝑥𝐢 plus 𝑦𝐣. In this question, we are told that vector 𝚨 is equal to five 𝐢 minus seven 𝐣. This means that 𝑥 is equal to five and 𝑦 is equal to negative seven. Vector 𝚨 written in Cartesian coordinates is equal to five, negative seven.