What is the unit vector of this vector v = -2i + 5j?

1 Answer
Jul 15, 2016

#color(blue)(vec(u)=-2/sqrt(29)i+5/sqrt(29)j)# is a unit vector with the same direction as #vec(v)=-2+5j#

Explanation:

The unit vector, #vec(u)# corresponding to a given vector #vec(v)# can be calculated by dividing the terms of #vec(v)# by the magnitude (length) of #vec(v)#

#color(white)("XXX")vec(u)=vec(v)/abs(vec(v))#

#abs(vec(v))# is calculated using the Pythagorean Theorem.
In this case with #vec(v)=-2i+5j#
#color(white)("XXX")abs(vec(v))=sqrt((-2)^2+5^2)=sqrt(29)#