Really getting started precal honors problem

[bennett]

an airplane's velocity with respect to the air is 400 kilometers per hour, with a bearing of 45degrees. The wind at the altitude of the plane has a velocity of 40 kilometers per hour with a bearing of N50degeeesE. What is its speed relative to the ground

Ok I am not asking you to do the problem for me i just don't have all my notes on me and the book isn't much help i would really appreciate it if someone could help me get started on this problem, thanks.

 

[Hollysmoke]

Did you try drawing it out? That should give you an idea.

 

[Hollysmoke]

Also, Parallelogram Law of Vector Addition.

 

[moose]

Break both things into vectors and then add them up...

 

[Hollysmoke]

Also, you can't say bearing of N50E, because a bearing is presumed to start from the north and go clockwise. So you only say a bearing of so and so degrees.

 

[HallsofIvy]

Actually, it is common in navigation to give a bearing like that. Of course, "N 30 degrees E" is just an angle measured 30 degrees east of north- since that is clockwise, assuming that the x-axis is east, that corresponds to an angle in the coordinate system of 60 degrees.

Of course, as long as you are consistent and write your answer correctly, there is nothing wrong with measuring angles clockwise from north.

In any case, draw a picture, be careful of your lengths and angles and look for triangles.