Suppose a vector v = 2 i − 1 4 j . Find the unit vector u which has the same direction as v .
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v = 2 i − 1 4 j
The slope of v is 2 − 1 4 = − 7
Assume that u = k ∗ i + l ∗ j
u must have a slope of − 7 .
So: k l = − 7 ⇒ l = − 7 k
Also, u must be of length 1. That means:
k 2 + l 2 = 1 ⇒
k 2 + ( − 7 k ) 2 = 1 ⇒
5 0 k 2 = 1 ⇒
k 2 = 5 0 1 ⇒
k = 5 2 1
And l = 5 2 − 7
Therefor:
u = 5 2 i + 5 2 − 7 j