1. STEP 1 – break each vector into its components
X = - 5
Y = 0
X =
Y = - 2.3 5
12° 11

2. STEP 2 – add all the X and Y components separately
- 5
- 10.8
- 2.3
- 15.8
- 2.3

3. STEP 3 – Use the sum of the X and Y components to construct the resultant vector.
Use Pythagorean theorem to
determine the magnitude of
the resultant
15.8
2.3
R = (15.8)2 + (2.3)2
= 16.0 ‘units’
@ 8.3°south
of west
Use trigonometry to
determine the angle
(ALWAYS back at the beginning)
opp
2.3
tanθ = =
adj
15.8
θ = 8.3°

4. Calculating relative error
accepted - experimental
% error =
X 100
actual

5. = 3.13% = 5.63% = 16.9% = 41.0% 16.0 – 15.5 magnitude error = X 100
16.0 – 15.1
magnitude error
= 5.63% =
X 100
16.0
8.3 – 9.7
direction error
= 16.9% =
X 100
8.3
8.3 – 11.7
direction error
= 41.0% =
X 100
8.3