Question

A vector has an x component of -15 and a y component of 14. what is its magnitude?

Answer 1

to find the magnitude of a vector from either the x or y component you would need to know the angle (theta). Since this is not given, you have to use:

$a^2 + b^2 = c^2$
where c = the magnitude
so the equation to solve for c is:
$sqrt((-15^2) +14^2)$