What is the velocity of the passenger relative to the water?

[thschica]

A passenger on a boat moving at 1.13 m/s on a still lake walks up a flight of stairs at a speed of 0.50 m/s, Fig. 3-44. The stairs are angled at 45° pointing in the direction of motion as shown. What is the velocity of the passenger relative to the water?
I have to get the magnitude of it and I get -123 which isfor sure not right
I also have to get the direction in degrees---- how do I do that.
My teacher hasn't taught us all of this yet!

 

[hotvette]

It's best to draw a picture showing the velocity vectors. This is vector addition.

 

[Doc Al]

$$\vec{V}_{person/water} = \vec{V}_{person/boat} + \vec{V}_{boat/water}$$

Hint: express the velocity vectors in terms of vertical and horizontal components.