The sum of two vectors for example $\vec{P}$ and $\vec{Q}$ are taken as $\vec{P}+\vec{Q}$ but when we take the resultant of two non parallel forces $\vec{P}$ and $\vec{Q}$, we take it as
$$R^2 =P^2+ Q^2+ 2PQ \cos \theta$$
Why is that? Why can't we take the resultant of the two forces in the same manner we do in Vectors? As Force is a vector quantity?
A simple explanation(that is without heavy technical terms) would be preferred)
you're talking of $\left |R^2 \right |$ so you are talking of $\left \| P+Q \right \|^2$. You know that $\left \| v \right \| is \sqrt{\left \langle v.v\right \rangle}$, so $\left \| P+Q \right \|^2=\left \langle P+Q.P+Q\right \rangle$ but the inner product is bilinear so $\left \| P+Q \right \|^2=\left \| P \right \|^2+\left \|Q \right \|^2+2\left \langle P.Q\right \rangle$ where $2\left \langle P,Q\right \rangle$ is $2PQcos\theta$.
I hope I didn't do any mistake.