A student calculates the angle of a vector by entering directly into a calculator

MATHEMATICS · Subjective · CBSE · Mathematics · Vector Algebra · Vector Algebra

Problem

A student calculates the angle of a vector by entering tan⁡−1(By/Bx)\tan^{-1}(B_y/B_x) directly into a calculator. Explain why this raw calculator value may not always give the correct physical direction of the vector. In your answer, refer to the possible signs of BxB_x and ByB_y and describe how the angle should be adjusted, if necessary.

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