How to convert a vector to a unit vector if it's magnitude is smaller than one?

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In my javascript project, I need to convert a vector to a unit vector. I know that I can divide its x and y components by its magnitude. But what if the vector's magnitude is smaller than one? How to make it a unit vector then ?







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    "it's" (abbreviation of "it is") should be $to$ "its"
    – Jean Marie
    Aug 12 '16 at 19:57














up vote
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In my javascript project, I need to convert a vector to a unit vector. I know that I can divide its x and y components by its magnitude. But what if the vector's magnitude is smaller than one? How to make it a unit vector then ?







share|cite|improve this question


















  • 1




    "it's" (abbreviation of "it is") should be $to$ "its"
    – Jean Marie
    Aug 12 '16 at 19:57












up vote
-1
down vote

favorite









up vote
-1
down vote

favorite











In my javascript project, I need to convert a vector to a unit vector. I know that I can divide its x and y components by its magnitude. But what if the vector's magnitude is smaller than one? How to make it a unit vector then ?







share|cite|improve this question














In my javascript project, I need to convert a vector to a unit vector. I know that I can divide its x and y components by its magnitude. But what if the vector's magnitude is smaller than one? How to make it a unit vector then ?









share|cite|improve this question













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edited Aug 27 at 16:48









Bungo

13.2k22044




13.2k22044










asked Aug 12 '16 at 19:10









arandomguy

14617




14617







  • 1




    "it's" (abbreviation of "it is") should be $to$ "its"
    – Jean Marie
    Aug 12 '16 at 19:57












  • 1




    "it's" (abbreviation of "it is") should be $to$ "its"
    – Jean Marie
    Aug 12 '16 at 19:57







1




1




"it's" (abbreviation of "it is") should be $to$ "its"
– Jean Marie
Aug 12 '16 at 19:57




"it's" (abbreviation of "it is") should be $to$ "its"
– Jean Marie
Aug 12 '16 at 19:57










1 Answer
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The same way. Divide by its magnitude. Remember that when you divide by a number that’s less than one, you’re increasing the total value.






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  • Oh I understand. Thanks.
    – arandomguy
    Aug 12 '16 at 19:14






  • 2




    Minor quibble: you need to make sure the magnitude is nonzero.
    – Barry Cipra
    Aug 12 '16 at 19:15










  • @BarryCipra yes.
    – arandomguy
    Aug 12 '16 at 19:16






  • 1




    @BarryCipra True, but one always has to check for that. That wasn’t the gist of the question.
    – amd
    Aug 12 '16 at 19:21











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1 Answer
1






active

oldest

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1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes








up vote
4
down vote



accepted










The same way. Divide by its magnitude. Remember that when you divide by a number that’s less than one, you’re increasing the total value.






share|cite|improve this answer




















  • Oh I understand. Thanks.
    – arandomguy
    Aug 12 '16 at 19:14






  • 2




    Minor quibble: you need to make sure the magnitude is nonzero.
    – Barry Cipra
    Aug 12 '16 at 19:15










  • @BarryCipra yes.
    – arandomguy
    Aug 12 '16 at 19:16






  • 1




    @BarryCipra True, but one always has to check for that. That wasn’t the gist of the question.
    – amd
    Aug 12 '16 at 19:21















up vote
4
down vote



accepted










The same way. Divide by its magnitude. Remember that when you divide by a number that’s less than one, you’re increasing the total value.






share|cite|improve this answer




















  • Oh I understand. Thanks.
    – arandomguy
    Aug 12 '16 at 19:14






  • 2




    Minor quibble: you need to make sure the magnitude is nonzero.
    – Barry Cipra
    Aug 12 '16 at 19:15










  • @BarryCipra yes.
    – arandomguy
    Aug 12 '16 at 19:16






  • 1




    @BarryCipra True, but one always has to check for that. That wasn’t the gist of the question.
    – amd
    Aug 12 '16 at 19:21













up vote
4
down vote



accepted







up vote
4
down vote



accepted






The same way. Divide by its magnitude. Remember that when you divide by a number that’s less than one, you’re increasing the total value.






share|cite|improve this answer












The same way. Divide by its magnitude. Remember that when you divide by a number that’s less than one, you’re increasing the total value.







share|cite|improve this answer












share|cite|improve this answer



share|cite|improve this answer










answered Aug 12 '16 at 19:12









amd

26.6k21046




26.6k21046











  • Oh I understand. Thanks.
    – arandomguy
    Aug 12 '16 at 19:14






  • 2




    Minor quibble: you need to make sure the magnitude is nonzero.
    – Barry Cipra
    Aug 12 '16 at 19:15










  • @BarryCipra yes.
    – arandomguy
    Aug 12 '16 at 19:16






  • 1




    @BarryCipra True, but one always has to check for that. That wasn’t the gist of the question.
    – amd
    Aug 12 '16 at 19:21

















  • Oh I understand. Thanks.
    – arandomguy
    Aug 12 '16 at 19:14






  • 2




    Minor quibble: you need to make sure the magnitude is nonzero.
    – Barry Cipra
    Aug 12 '16 at 19:15










  • @BarryCipra yes.
    – arandomguy
    Aug 12 '16 at 19:16






  • 1




    @BarryCipra True, but one always has to check for that. That wasn’t the gist of the question.
    – amd
    Aug 12 '16 at 19:21
















Oh I understand. Thanks.
– arandomguy
Aug 12 '16 at 19:14




Oh I understand. Thanks.
– arandomguy
Aug 12 '16 at 19:14




2




2




Minor quibble: you need to make sure the magnitude is nonzero.
– Barry Cipra
Aug 12 '16 at 19:15




Minor quibble: you need to make sure the magnitude is nonzero.
– Barry Cipra
Aug 12 '16 at 19:15












@BarryCipra yes.
– arandomguy
Aug 12 '16 at 19:16




@BarryCipra yes.
– arandomguy
Aug 12 '16 at 19:16




1




1




@BarryCipra True, but one always has to check for that. That wasn’t the gist of the question.
– amd
Aug 12 '16 at 19:21





@BarryCipra True, but one always has to check for that. That wasn’t the gist of the question.
– amd
Aug 12 '16 at 19:21


















 

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