Question

If two vectors are perpendicular to each other, how should you add them?

Answer 1

use the pythagorean theorem

Answer 2

Let us consider two vectors A and B.

As per the question, the two vectors are perpendicular to each other.

Hence the angle between them
`\theta =90 degree`

We are asked to calculate the resultant of these two vectors.

As per parallelogram law of vector addition, the resultant of two vectors are-

`R=\sqrt{A^(2)+ B^(2)+2ABcos\theta`

`=\sqrt{ A^(2)+ B^(2)+2AB*cos90}` [cos90=0]

`=\sqrt{ A^(2)+ B^(2)`

This is the way by which we can add two perpendicular vectors.