Math Problem Statement
Solution
The problem shown in the image involves navigation, bearings, and trigonometry to calculate the distance and bearing of a boat from a harbor after it has traveled along two different directions.
Given:
- First leg: The boat travels 30 miles in the direction N 40° E.
- Second leg: The boat turns 90° to travel 22 miles in the direction S 50° E.
Approach:
-
Convert the directions into a coordinate system:
- N 40° E means the boat is 40° east of due north, so this can be broken into northward and eastward components.
- S 50° E means the boat is 50° east of due south, also broken into components.
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Calculate the position after each leg of the journey using trigonometry:
- Use sine and cosine to break down each leg into north-south and east-west components.
-
Find the total displacement from the origin (harbor) using the Pythagorean theorem.
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Calculate the bearing of the boat from the harbor entrance using inverse trigonometry (tan⁻¹).
Let me solve this step by step:
Step 1: Resolve the first leg (30 miles at N 40° E).
- North component:
- East component:
Step 2: Resolve the second leg (22 miles at S 50° E).
- South component:
- East component:
The eastward components from both legs will be added, while the northward and southward components will be subtracted.
Step 3: Calculate the total displacement and bearing.
I'll proceed to calculate these values.The boat is approximately 37 miles from the harbor, and the bearing from the harbor is approximately N 76° E.
Would you like further details or have any questions?
Here are 5 questions to expand on this problem:
- How are bearings typically measured in navigation?
- Why is it important to break down vectors into their components?
- How does the Pythagorean theorem help in solving displacement problems?
- What are the common applications of trigonometry in navigation?
- How do changes in direction affect the final position of a vessel?
Tip: When solving navigation problems, always visualize the path and break it into components for accuracy in distance and direction calculations.
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Trigonometry
Bearings
Vector Components
Pythagorean Theorem
Formulas
Displacement components: x = distance × cos(angle), y = distance × sin(angle)
Pythagorean theorem: c = √(a² + b²)
Inverse tangent function: tan⁻¹(y/x) for angle calculation
Theorems
Pythagorean Theorem
Trigonometric functions
Suitable Grade Level
Grades 9-12