VECTORS Conversions (Page 1 of 6)

Although the TI-83/84 does not have vector capabilities directly, it can be used to perform a number of operations on vectors if we represent the vector a certain way. For applications involving the angle and magnitude of a two-dimensional vector, we will represent the vector using an ordered pair. That is, the terminal point of the vector <a, b> in standard position is (a, b), and this point can be used to represent the vector as a whole.

To find the magnitude of a vector, we will use the RtoPr conversion command in the ANGLE menu. Suppose we have the vector <5, -3>. The magnitude, r, is found from the Home screen using menu option 5.

 2nd QUIT key. CLEAR key.

 2nd ANGLE key. 5: menu selection. 5 Comma key. Negation key. 3 Right parenthesis key. ENTER key.

 Calculator screen image.
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