Addition and Subtraction of Vectors – Triangle Method
The method of adding vectors graphically is by arranging them so that head of first is touching the tail of second vector and making a triangle by joining the open sides . This method is called head-to-tail method or triangle method of vector addition
o Vector addition is :
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Commutative : A + B = B + A o Associative : ( A + B ) + C = A + ( B + C )
Adding two vectors with equal magnitudes and opposite directions results in null vector .
o Null Vector : A + ( -A ) = 0
Subtraction is adding a negative vector ( opposite direction ) to a positive vector .
o A – B = A + ( -B )