Hiker's Total Displacement: 74km

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the total displacement of a hiker who makes four straight-line walks at specified distances and angles, starting from a given position. The subject area includes vector addition and trigonometry.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss finding the X and Y components of each displacement and summing them. There is mention of using the Pythagorean theorem to determine the magnitude of the total displacement and trigonometric ratios for the angle. One participant expresses uncertainty about their calculations leading to an incorrect result.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants sharing their approaches and questioning the accuracy of their calculations. There is a focus on ensuring the correct use of calculators and methods, but no consensus has been reached regarding the correct answer.

Contextual Notes

One participant notes a potential issue with calculator settings, specifically ensuring it is set to degrees, which may affect the calculations. There is an implication of homework constraints regarding the accuracy of the results.

JennAshley19
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1. A hiker makes four straight line walks
A. 15km at 48 degrees
B. 27km at 134 degrees
C. 28km at 193 degrees
D. 14 km at 228 degrees

in random directions and lengths starting at position (41km, 41km). How far from the starting point is the hiker? All angles measured in a counter-clockwise direction from the positive x-axis. Answer in units of km.
 
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Find the X and Y component for each displacement and add them all up. If it goes left it's negative and if it goes down it's negative, vice versa. Once you have the x and y components, use the Pythagorean theorem to get the magnitude of the displacement. Use a trigonometric ratio to find the angle.
 
Thank you that is what I have been doing, but my answer of 80.944 is wrong, and I can't tell where I'm going wrong.
 
JennAshley19 said:
Thank you that is what I have been doing, but my answer of 80.944 is wrong, and I can't tell where I'm going wrong.

make sure your calculator is in degrees, other than that, it's on you to make the proper calculations.
 

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