Finding missing components given speed and direction.

[bling-bling]

Homework Statement

#26 (on attachment). The speed of an object and the direction in which it moves constitute a vector quantity known as the velocity. An ostrich is running at a speed of 17.0 m/s in a direction of 68 degrees NW. What is the magnitude of the ostrich's velocity component that is directed (a) due north and (b) due west?

Homework Equations

R2 = A2 + B2 – 2ABcosθ
x: (hyp)(cosθ)
y: (hyp)(sinθ)

The Attempt at a Solution

I have no idea what do to. This is my summer assignment for ap physics and I've not taken pre-cal or cal or physics before so I am confused. i have a couple more problems like this that I am confused in, but that's a different thread..

 

[gdbb]

This uses right triangle trig. If you plot the velocity vector of the ostrich on a graph, starting at the origin, can you figure out where it will end? You know the hypotenuse and you're looking for the x- and y-components.

 

[bling-bling]

ohh. now i feel stupid that i didn't think of that before.

 

[bling-bling]

should i round to nearest tenth or hundredth?

 

[cupid.callin]

should i round to nearest tenth or hundredth?

tenth will be ok

 

[bling-bling]

so would the units be m/s or not since it asks for magnitude??