if u have a negative vector component do u leave it as it is or do u minus into 180 degrees to make it positive? E.g -89.0i + 228.5j
When dealing with vector components, it is important to understand their direction. The sign of the component tells us about the direction in which the vector is pointing.
In your example, you have a vector with components -89.0i + 228.5j. The negative sign in front of the i-component (-89.0i) indicates that it points in the opposite direction to the positive x-axis. The positive sign in front of the j-component (+228.5j) indicates that it points in the positive y-axis direction.
If you want to represent the vector as a positive component in the x-axis direction, you can multiply the negative sign with the i-component by -1:
-(-89.0i) = 89.0i
So, the vector can be represented as 89.0i + 228.5j.
However, it is essential to note that changing the sign of a vector component only changes its direction, not its magnitude. If you are interested in finding the magnitude of the vector, you can use the Pythagorean theorem:
Magnitude = sqrt((89.0^2) + (228.5^2))
By squaring each component, summing them up, and taking the square root of the sum, you can obtain the magnitude of the vector.