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Magnitude

Definition

Magnitude refers to the size or quantity of a mathematical object, such as a vector or complex number. It represents the distance from the origin to a point in space.

Analogy

Think of magnitude as the "size" of something. Just like you can measure the size of an object with a ruler, magnitude measures how far away a point is from the origin in mathematics.

Related terms

Vector: A vector is a mathematical object that has both magnitude and direction.

Absolute Value: Absolute value is another term for magnitude, specifically used for real numbers. It represents the distance between a number and zero on a number line.

Norm: Norm is another word for magnitude, often used in linear algebra. It measures the length or size of vectors.

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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.