SOLUTION: a plane flies 285 km due west and then 320 km due north. What are its distance and bearing from the starting point

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Question 43423: a plane flies 285 km due west and then 320 km due north. What are its distance and bearing from the starting point
Answer by psbhowmick(878) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


Apply Pythagorus theorem.
AC%5E2+=+AB%5E2+%2B+BC%5E2
or AC%5E2+=+285%5E2+%2B+320%5E2
or AC%5E2+=+81225+%2B+102400
or AC%5E2+=+183625
or AC+=+sqrt%28183625%29
or AC+=+428.515

Again, angle between AB and AC is
tan%28X%29+=+BC%2FAB
or tan%28x%29+=+320%2F285+=+1.1228
or X = tan inverse (1.1228) = 48.31%5Eo

So, the distance of the plane from its starting point is 428.515 km and the angle X is 48.31%5Eo.