A vector of magnitude 5 points in the +y direction. Another vector of magnitude 4 is subtracted from the first vector. The smallest possible magnitude of the sum is
A) 1.
B) 4.
C) 5.
D) 9.
E) 10.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When subtracting vectors, the smallest possible magnitude occurs when the vectors are in the same direction. Here, the first vector is 5 in the +y direction, and the second vector can be 4 in the -y direction (opposite direction), resulting in a magnitude of |5 - 4| = 1.

A Vector of Magnitude 5 Points in the +Y Direction