Any vector can be resolved into a pair of component vectors, one horizontal and one vertical, that are equivalent to the original vector. In the picture above, the vector of length 11 at 60 degrees can be replaced by the component vectors h and v. The direction of these components is always horizontal and vertical. All that is necessary is to find their length. h = 11 cos h = 11 cos 60 h = 5.5 v = 11 sin v = 11 sin 60 v = 9.5 Here is another example: The angle is always measured from 0 (the positive x-axis). h = 79 cos h = 79 cos 140 h = -60.5 v = 79 sin v = 79 sin 140 v = 50.8 Notice that the horizontal component is negative! This is because the vector 79 points to the left. Back | Vectors