*Steps in determining the resultant of two vectors:

1. Using a suitable scale, draw the arrows representing the

vectors from a common point.

2. Construct a parallelogram using the two vectors as sides.

A

B
3. Draw the diagonal of the parallelogram from the common
point. This represents the resultant R.

A
R

B R=A+B

4. Measure the length of the arrow representing the

resultant, and from the scale used, determine its
magnitude.
5. Determine the direction of the resultant vector using a
protractor.
Sample Problem:
Two forces A and B are acting on an object. A is 3.0 N
directed north and B is 4.0 N, 300 north of east. Find the
resultant force acting on the object using the parallelogram
method.
Practice Exercise:
A balloon is rising vertically at 4.0 m/s. Wind is
blowing from east to west at 3.0 m/s. Find the resultant
velocity of the balloon.
The parallelogram method may also be used to add more
than two vectors. However, the process is tedious. The steps
when adding more than two vectors:

1. After drawing the resultant of the first two vectors,

construct a second parallelogram using this resultant and
the third vector as sides.
2. Draw the diagonal of the parallelogram from the common
point. This is now the new resultant.
3. The process is continued until all vectors have been
added.
4. The magnitude of the final resultant is determined from
the scale used. The direction is measured by a
protractor.
Sample Problem:
A particle is being acted upon by the following forces:
F1 = 4.0 N, east; F2 = 6.0 N, northeast; and F3 = 8.0 N, south.
Find the resultant using the parallelogram method. You may
add the forces according to the following grouping
(F1 + F2) + F3
Practice Exercise:
Using the same forces in previous problem, find
F1 + (F2 + F3).
- Known as the tip-to-tail method
- This method is more convenient than the
parallelogram method when more than
two vectors are to be added graphically.
STEPS:
1. Represent each vector quantity by an arrow drawn to
scale.
2. Starting from the origin, draw the first vector on the
rectangular coordinate system, accounting properly its
direction.
3. Connect the tail of the second vector to the head of the
first vector. Connect the tail of the third vector to the head
of the second vector. You may continue drawing the vectors
head to tail until you draw the last vector to be added.

4. The resultant will close the figure formed by connecting

the vectors. This resultant is drawn from the tail of the first
vector to the head of the last vector.
5. Measure the length of the arrow representing the
resultant. Determine the magnitude of the resultant from
the scale used.

6. Use a protractor to determine the direction of the

resultant.
Sample Problem
You are out for an early morning walk. You walk 5.0
m, south and 12.0 m, east. Then, you decided to walk
farther and go 4.0 m, southwest and 6.0 m, west.
(a)How far are you now from your starting point and in
what direction?
(b)Would you have arrived at the same spot had you taken
the steps in this order: 12.0 m, east; 4.0 m, southwest;
5.0 m, south; and 6.0 m, west?
Practice Exercise
Referring to the given displacements in previous
sample problem, use the polygon method to determine the
resultant if the displacements are added in the following
order: D + A + B + C. Did you get almost the same answer?