Final answer:
Vector subtraction, such as A - B, is equivalent to adding the inverse of vector B to A, expressed as A + (-B), which is fundamentally the addition of a vector in the opposite direction.
Step-by-step explanation:
When subtracting vectors, such as vector A and B, we often use the graphical method which involves adding the opposite of vector B, represented as -B. This technique means that the subtraction of vector B from A is equivalent to the addition of -B to A.
For example, if vector A has components Ax and Ay, and vector B has components Bx and By, then the components of the resultant vector A - B are Rx = Ax - Bx and Ry = Ay - By.
So, in summary, when subtracting vectors, we can use the addition formula with the negative of the vector being subtracted.
Therefore, vector subtraction is expressed as A - B = A + (-B). This is similar to algebra, where whatever operation you perform on one side of the equation, you must also do to the other side to maintain equality. In essence, vector subtraction doesn't involve a different operation than addition; it's merely the addition of a vector in the opposite direction.