Access free live classes and tests on the app
Download
+
Unacademy
  • Goals
    • AFCAT
    • AP EAMCET
    • Bank Exam
    • BPSC
    • CA Foundation
    • CAPF
    • CAT
    • CBSE Class 11
    • CBSE Class 12
    • CDS
    • CLAT
    • CSIR UGC
    • GATE
    • IIT JAM
    • JEE
    • Karnataka CET
    • Karnataka PSC
    • Kerala PSC
    • MHT CET
    • MPPSC
    • NDA
    • NEET PG
    • NEET UG
    • NTA UGC
    • Railway Exam
    • SSC
    • TS EAMCET
    • UPSC
    • WBPSC
    • CFA
Login Join for Free
avtar
  • ProfileProfile
  • Settings Settings
  • Refer your friendsRefer your friends
  • Sign outSign out
  • Terms & conditions
  • •
  • Privacy policy
  • About
  • •
  • Careers
  • •
  • Blog

© 2023 Sorting Hat Technologies Pvt Ltd

Watch Free Classes
    • Free courses
    • JEE Main 2024
    • JEE Main 2024 Live Paper Discussion
    • JEE Main Rank Predictor 2024
    • JEE Main College Predictor 2024
    • Stream Predictor
    • JEE Main 2024 Free Mock Test
    • Study Materials
    • Notifications
    • JEE Advanced Syllabus
    • JEE Books
    • JEE Main Question Paper
    • JEE Coaching
    • Downloads
    • JEE Notes & Lectures
    • JEE Daily Videos
    • Difference Between
    • Full Forms
    • Important Formulas
    • Exam Tips
JEE Main 2026 Preparation: Question Papers, Solutions, Mock Tests & Strategy Unacademy » JEE Study Material » Mathematics » Magnitude of a vector

Magnitude of a vector

In this article we will cover Magnitude of a vector, Magnitude of a vector distance, how do you find magnitude of a vector. A vector has two components: magnitude and direction. The magnitude of the vector is its size, and the direction is the angle it makes with the positive x-axis.

Table of Content
  •  

A vector formula’s magnitude aids in summarizing the numerical value of a given vector. A vector has a magnitude and a direction. This magnitude of a vector formula summarizes the individual vector measures along the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis. It is represented by the letter |v|. A vector’s magnitude is always a positive number or zero, and it can never be negative.

“The length of a vector or the distance between a vector’s initial point and its endpoint.”

|A| denotes the magnitude of a vector A. The magnitude of AB can be represented as |AB| if it is a vector that begins at point A and ends at point B.

 

Magnitude of a vector

The magnitude of a vector A is its length and is denoted by |A|. It is the square root of the sum of the squares of the vector’s components. The magnitude of a vector with direction ratios along the x, y, and z axis is equal to the square root of the sum of the squares of its direction ratios. This is clear from the magnitude of a vector formula shown below.

The mathematical formulas used to calculate the magnitude of a vector in different dimensions

  • A Vector’s Magnitude in Two Dimensions

  • The Three-Dimensional Magnitude of a Vector

  • For n Dimensions, the Magnitude of a Vector Formula

  • The Distance Formula is used to calculate the magnitude of a vector.

 

 

 

Magnitude of a vector distance

The magnitude of vectors must be calculated for all types of problems where forces collide. The length of a vector is defined as its magnitude. The absolute value notation 

The magnitude of the vector v is denoted by the symbol |v|. 

 

A variation of the distance formula is used to calculate the magnitude of a vector v=. 

This formula is a variant of the well-known Pythagorean theorem:

v=(x2+y2)  

For example, the magnitude of the vector n=<4-3> can be calculated as follows:

n=(42+(-3)2) = 5 

As we can see, the use of absolute value bars for vector magnitude is appropriate: Magnitude, like all other distances, is always expressed as a positive number. The magnitude of a vector is the distance between the origin and tip of a graph, just as the absolute value of a number is the distance between 0 and that number on a number line.

 

How do you find magnitude of a vector

The magnitude of a two-dimensional vector can be calculated using its coordinates.

  • Find its constituents.

  • Calculate the sum of the squares of each of its constituents.

  • Take the square root of the total.

  • The formula for calculating the magnitude of a vector (in two dimensions)-

v=x,y:v=(x2+y2)  

 

For example:

Find the magnitude of the vector with u = (2, 5) using the magnitude formula.

Solution:  To determine: the magnitude of the given vector

Given u = (2, 5)

By employing the magnitude formula,

u=(x2+y2)

=((2)2+(5)2)

=4+5

u=5.385

 

Answer: The given vector’s magnitude is 5.385.

 

Conclusion

We learned in this article that the magnitude or size of a mathematical object in mathematics is a property that determines whether the object is larger or smaller than other objects of the same kind. In more formal terms, the magnitude of an object is the displayed result of an ordering of the class of objects to which it belongs. The magnitude of a vector formula, denoted as |v|, is used to calculate the length of a given vector v. So, in essence, this quantity is the distance between the vector’s start and end points.

 
faq

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the JEE Examination Preparation.

In mathematics, how do you represent a vector?

Ans:  Vectors are objects in mathematics that have both magnitude and directi...Read full

What is the magnitude of a distance?

Ans.  Magnitude is a general term that refers to a quantity or a distance. In...Read full

What is the underlying idea behind the formula for calculating the magnitude of a vector?

Ans:  The length or size of a vector is referred to as its magnitude. It also...Read full

Ans:  Vectors are objects in mathematics that have both magnitude and direction. The size of the vector is defined by its magnitude. It is represented by a line with an arrow, where the length of the line represents the magnitude of the vector and the direction is indicated by the arrow.

Ans.  Magnitude is a general term that refers to a quantity or a distance. In terms of motion, we can correlate magnitude with the size and speed of the object as it travels. The magnitude of an object or amount is its size.

Ans:  The length or size of a vector is referred to as its magnitude. It also calculates its direction. The Pythagorean theorem and the distance formula, which are used to derive the vector magnitude formula, are concepts behind these formulas.

Crack IIT JEE with Unacademy

Get subscription and access unlimited live and recorded courses from India’s best educators

  • Structured syllabus
  • Daily live classes
  • Ask doubts
  • Tests & practice
Learn more

Notifications

Get all the important information related to the JEE Exam including the process of application, important calendar dates, eligibility criteria, exam centers etc.

Allotment of Examination Centre
JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria
JEE Advanced Exam Dates
JEE Advanced Exam Pattern 2023
JEE Advanced Syllabus
JEE Application Fee
JEE Application Process
JEE Eligibility Criteria 2023
JEE Exam Language and Centres
JEE Exam Pattern – Check JEE Paper Pattern 2024
JEE Examination Scheme
JEE Main 2024 Admit Card (OUT) – Steps to Download Session 1 Hall Ticket
JEE Main Application Form
JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2024
JEE Main Exam Dates
JEE Main Exam Pattern
JEE Main Highlights
JEE Main Paper Analysis
JEE Main Question Paper with Solutions and Answer Keys
JEE Main Result 2022 (Out)
JEE Main Revised Dates
JEE Marking Scheme
JEE Preparation Books 2024 – JEE Best Books (Mains and Advanced)
Online Applications for JEE (Main)-2022 Session 2
Reserved Seats
See all

Related articles

Learn more topics related to Mathematics
Zero Vector

A zero vector is defined as a line segment coincident with its beginning and ending points. Primary Keyword: Zero Vector

ZERO MATRIX

In this article, we will discuss about the zero matrix and it’s properties.

YARDS TO FEET

In this article we will discuss the conversion of yards into feet and feets to yard.

XVI Roman Numeral

In this article we are going to discuss XVI Roman Numerals and its origin.

See all
Access more than

10,505+ courses for IIT JEE

Get subscription

Trending Topics

  • JEE Main 2024
  • JEE Main Rank Predictor 2024
  • JEE Main Mock Test 2024
  • JEE Main 2024 Admit Card
  • JEE Advanced Syllabus
  • JEE Preparation Books
  • JEE Notes
  • JEE Advanced Toppers
  • JEE Advanced 2022 Question Paper
  • JEE Advanced 2022 Answer Key
  • JEE Main Question Paper
  • JEE Main Answer key 2022
  • JEE Main Paper Analysis 2022
  • JEE Main Result
  • JEE Exam Pattern
  • JEE Main Eligibility
  • JEE College predictor
combat_iitjee

Related links

  • JEE Study Materials
  • CNG Full Form
  • Dimensional Formula of Pressure
  • Reimer Tiemann Reaction
  • Vector Triple Product
  • Swarts Reaction
  • Focal length of Convex Lens
  • Root mean square velocities
  • Fehling’s solution
testseries_iitjee
Predict your JEE Rank
.
Company Logo

Unacademy is India’s largest online learning platform. Download our apps to start learning


Starting your preparation?

Call us and we will answer all your questions about learning on Unacademy

Call +91 8585858585

Company
About usShikshodayaCareers
we're hiring
BlogsPrivacy PolicyTerms and Conditions
Help & support
User GuidelinesSite MapRefund PolicyTakedown PolicyGrievance Redressal
Products
Learner appLearner appEducator appEducator appParent appParent app
Popular goals
IIT JEEUPSCSSCCSIR UGC NETNEET UG
Trending exams
GATECATCANTA UGC NETBank Exams
Study material
UPSC Study MaterialNEET UG Study MaterialCA Foundation Study MaterialJEE Study MaterialSSC Study Material

© 2026 Sorting Hat Technologies Pvt Ltd

Unacademy
  • Goals
    • AFCAT
    • AP EAMCET
    • Bank Exam
    • BPSC
    • CA Foundation
    • CAPF
    • CAT
    • CBSE Class 11
    • CBSE Class 12
    • CDS
    • CLAT
    • CSIR UGC
    • GATE
    • IIT JAM
    • JEE
    • Karnataka CET
    • Karnataka PSC
    • Kerala PSC
    • MHT CET
    • MPPSC
    • NDA
    • NEET PG
    • NEET UG
    • NTA UGC
    • Railway Exam
    • SSC
    • TS EAMCET
    • UPSC
    • WBPSC
    • CFA

Share via

COPY