Method

The Triangle Method

The triangle method, also called tip-to-tail method, is a way to find the sum of two or more vectors. As an example, consider the following vectors whose component forms are and
Two vectors
Apply the following two steps to find the sum of and
1
Join the Vectors
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Translate so that the tail of touches the tip of
Joining tail of b with tip of a
2
Draw the Resultant
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Draw a vector from the tail of to the tip of This vector is the sum of and
Drawing the resultant
Here it can be seen why the method is called the triangle method. Notice that the component form of the resultant is and it coincides with the vector addition of and
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