Precalculus : Pre-Calculus

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Precalculus

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Example Questions

Example Question #171 : Matrices And Vectors

Simplify:  \displaystyle \left \langle 2,-3,4\right \rangle+\left \langle-3,-3 \right \rangle-\left \langle5 \right \rangle

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle \left \langle -1,-6,-1\right \rangle

\displaystyle \left \langle -8\right \rangle

\displaystyle \textup{ Cannot be solved.}

\displaystyle \left \langle -1,0,-1\right \rangle

\displaystyle \left \langle -6,-6,4\right \rangle

Correct answer:

\displaystyle \textup{ Cannot be solved.}

Explanation:

The dimensions of the vectors are not the same.  Placeholders cannot be added to a vector.  Therefore, the values of the vectors cannot be added.

The correct answer is:  \displaystyle \textup{ Cannot be solved.}

Example Question #21 : Evaluate Geometric Vectors

Find the norm of the vector \displaystyle \vec{v}=[2,4,3].

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle \left | \vec{v}\right |= \sqrt{9} = 3

\displaystyle \left | \vec{v}\right |= 2\sqrt{6}\approx 4.899

\displaystyle \left | \vec{v}\right |= 9

\displaystyle \left | \vec{v}\right |= \sqrt{29}\approx 5.385

Correct answer:

\displaystyle \left | \vec{v}\right |= \sqrt{29}\approx 5.385

Explanation:

We find the norm of a vector by finding the sum of each element squared and then taking the square root.

\displaystyle \left | \vec{v} \right |= \sqrt{2^2+4^2+3^2}=\sqrt{29}.

 

Example Question #22 : Evaluate Geometric Vectors

Find the norm of the vector \displaystyle \vec{r}=7\hat{i} +4 \hat{j}+5 \hat{k}.

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle \left | \vec{r}\right | = 4

\displaystyle \left | \vec{r}\right | = 16

\displaystyle \left | \vec{r} \ \right | = 3 \sqrt{10}

\displaystyle \left | \vec{r}\right | = 2 \sqrt{13}

Correct answer:

\displaystyle \left | \vec{r} \ \right | = 3 \sqrt{10}

Explanation:

We find the norm of a vector by finding the sum of each component squared and then taking the square root of that sum.

\displaystyle \left | \vec{r}\right | = \sqrt{ 7^2+4^2+5^2 } = \sqrt{ 90 } = 3 \sqrt{10}

Example Question #23 : Evaluate Geometric Vectors

Find the norm of the vector: \displaystyle < 3,-12,5.6,2,-9>

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 31.6

\displaystyle \sqrt{184.36}\approx 13.58

\displaystyle \sqrt{31.6}\approx 5.62

\displaystyle 269.36

\displaystyle \sqrt{269.36}\approx 16.41

Correct answer:

\displaystyle \sqrt{269.36}\approx 16.41

Explanation:

The norm of a vector is also known as the length of the vector. The norm is given by the formula: 

\displaystyle \sqrt{\sum_{i=1}^nv_i^2}=\left \| v\right \|.

Here, we have

\displaystyle \left \|v \right \|=\sqrt{3^2+(-12)^2+5.6^2+2^2+(-9)^2}=\sqrt{269.36},

the correct answer.

Example Question #24 : Evaluate Geometric Vectors

Find the norm of vector \displaystyle \left \langle -2,2\right \rangle.

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}

\displaystyle 4

\displaystyle 0

\displaystyle 2\sqrt2

\displaystyle 2

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 2\sqrt2

Explanation:

Write the formula to find the norm, or the length the vector.

\displaystyle \left \| v\right \|=\sqrt{a_{1}^2+b_{2}^2}

Substitute the known values of the vector and solve.

\displaystyle \left \| v\right \|=\sqrt{(-2)^2+2^2}= \sqrt{4+4}=\sqrt8=2\sqrt2

Example Question #1591 : Pre Calculus

Find the norm (magnitude) of the following vector:

\displaystyle \vec{b}=3i+5j-6k

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle -\sqrt{70}

\displaystyle 36

\displaystyle \sqrt{70}

\displaystyle 70

\displaystyle \sqrt{72}

Correct answer:

\displaystyle \sqrt{70}

Explanation:

Use the following equation to find the magnitude of a vector:

\displaystyle \left \| \vec{b}\right \|=\sqrt{i^2+j^2+k^2}

In this case we have:

\displaystyle \vec{b}=3i+5j-6k

So plug in our values:

\displaystyle \left \| \vec{b}\right \|=\sqrt{3^2+5^2+(-6)^2}=\sqrt{70}

So:

\displaystyle \left \| \vec{b} \right \|=\sqrt{70}

Example Question #25 : Evaluate Geometric Vectors

Find the product of the vector \displaystyle \vec{r}= 11\hat{i}+7\hat{j} and the scalar \displaystyle a=4.

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle a\vec{r}=72 \hat{i}

\displaystyle a\vec{r}=72

\displaystyle a\vec{r}=44 \hat{i}+28\vec{j}

\displaystyle a\vec{r}=44 \hat{j}+28\vec{i}

Correct answer:

\displaystyle a\vec{r}=44 \hat{i}+28\vec{j}

Explanation:

When multiplying a vector by a scalar we multiply each component of the vector by the scalar and the result is a vector:

\displaystyle a \vec{r}= 4 \cdot (11 \hat{i} + 7 \hat{j}) = 44 \hat{i}+28 \hat{j}

Example Question #1 : Convert Polar Equations To Rectangular Form And Vice Versa

Convert from polar form to rectangular form:

\displaystyle r=4\cos\theta

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle (x+2)^2+y^2=4

\displaystyle x^2+y^2+4=0

\displaystyle (x-2)^2+y^2=4

\displaystyle (x+y)^2=4

Correct answer:

\displaystyle (x-2)^2+y^2=4

Explanation:

Start by multiplying both sides by \displaystyle r.

\displaystyle r=4\cos\theta

\displaystyle r^2=4r\cos\theta

Keep in mind that \displaystyle r^2=x^2+y^2

\displaystyle x^2+y^2=4r\cos\theta

Remember that \displaystyle x=r\cos\theta

So then,

\displaystyle x^2+y^2=4x

\displaystyle x^2-4x+y^2=0

Now, complete the square.

\displaystyle (x^2-4x+4)+y^2=4

\displaystyle (x-2)^2+y^2=4

Example Question #1 : Polar Coordinates

Convert the polar equation to rectangular form:

\displaystyle r=8\sin\theta

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle x^2+(y+4)^2=16

\displaystyle (x-4)^2+y^2=15

\displaystyle (x+y-4)^2=16

\displaystyle x^2+(y-4)^2=16

Correct answer:

\displaystyle x^2+(y-4)^2=16

Explanation:

Start by multiplying both sides by \displaystyle r.

\displaystyle r=8\sin\theta

\displaystyle r^2=8r\sin\theta

Remember that \displaystyle r^2=x^2+y^2

\displaystyle x^2+y^2=8r\sin\theta

Keep in mind that \displaystyle y=r\sin\theta

So then,

\displaystyle x^2+y^2=8y

\displaystyle x^2+y^2-8x=0

Now, complete the square.

\displaystyle x^2+(y^2-8x+16)=16

\displaystyle x^2+(y-4)^2=16

This is a graph of a circle with a radius of \displaystyle 4 and a center at \displaystyle (0, 4)

Example Question #1 : Convert Polar Equations To Rectangular Form And Vice Versa

Convert the polar equation into rectangular form:

\displaystyle r=8\sec\theta

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle x=8

\displaystyle y=8

\displaystyle (x-1)^2+y^2=64

\displaystyle x^2+y^2=8

Correct answer:

\displaystyle x=8

Explanation:

Remember that \displaystyle \sec\theta=\frac{1}{\cos\theta}

So then \displaystyle r=8\sec\theta becomes

\displaystyle r=\frac{8}{\cos\theta}

Now, multiply both sides by \displaystyle \cos\theta to get rid of the fraction.

\displaystyle r\cos\theta=8

Since \displaystyle x=r\cos\theta, the rectangular form of this equation is

\displaystyle x=8

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