Vectors proof

Hi, I'm struggling to do this proof. I've tried using pythagoras as my first step to find an expression for the magnitude of b (v2), but it just ends up cancelling out to zero on the left hand side of the equation. Have I chosen the wrong first step? I'm not sure what else to do... thanks!

Hi, I'm struggling to do this proof. I've tried using pythagoras as my first step to find an expression for the magnitude of b (v2), but it just ends up cancelling out to zero on the left hand side of the equation. Have I chosen the wrong first step? I'm not sure what else to do... thanks!

Probably help to upload what you tried. It sounds similar to the proof of the cos rule.

Note the altitude is v2 sin(theta), not v1 sin(theta)

Probably help to upload what you tried. It sounds similar to the proof of the cos rule.

Note the altitude is v2 sin(theta), not v1 sin(theta)

Here's my working, I've never really done proof with vectors before, only with scalars, so I'm not too sure if there are any rules I'm going wrong with?

Here's my working, I've never really done proof with vectors before, only with scalars, so I'm not too sure if there are any rules I'm going wrong with?

I don't see how this answers the question (I don't think it even moves you in the right direction).

Look at the diagram - can you see a right angled triangle with hypotenuse v that you could use to find the length of v? You basically just need to apply pythagorus to that and rearrange slightly and you're done.

I think they want you to prove it using scalars, so its basically how the cos rule maps to vector magnitudes. So pythagoras with
a = base = |v1| + |v2|cos(theta)
b = perp height = |v2|sin(theta)
c = hypotenuse = |v|
Should just be a couple of lines.

For the usual cos rule, theta would be the supplementary value 180-theta, and the sign is flipped accordingly so -2abcos(theta)