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-   -   The complicated boat directions in trignometry (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=227125)

  • Jun 15, 2008, 01:03 PM
    alf123
    The complicated boat directions in trignometry
    Two boats named Spritzer1 and Whaler2 leave the same dock at the same time. Spritzer1 travels at a speed of 15.0km/h. The Whaler 2 heads due east and travels at a speed of 18.0km/h. After 3/4 of an hour, the boats are 14.0 km apart when Spritzer 1 calls Whaler 2 for help, because their engine has stopped working.
    a) Assmuing that both boats travel in a straight part, determine the angle between their paths. (round to the nearest degree).
    b) Using compass directions, what course did Spritzer1 set when leaving the dock.
    c) When Spritzer 1 calls Whaler 2 for help, the captain of Whaler 2 sets a new course. What angle does the captain of Whaler 2 turn the boat?
  • Jun 15, 2008, 01:21 PM
    galactus
    1 Attachment(s)
    The boats travel for 45 minutes. That means Spritzer travels 11.25 km and Whaler travels 13.5 km. The distance between them is 14 km

    So, you have a triangle with side lengths b=13.5, c=11.25, a=14

    We can use the law of cosines and solve for the angle.



    Solve for A:



    Enter your givens and you have the angle you need. You can use that to solve the other portions.

    For part b, you need the angle from the positive y-axis (north) to vertex A.

    For part c, You need angle ABC.

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