Solving the missing data for this Traverse

[raiderUM]

Homework Statement

Line distance bearing
AB 164.96 N 71.12.01 E
BC 88.43 ?
CD ? S 44.16.51 W
DE 115.86 N 68.47.34 W
EA 68.41 N 7.20.24 W

Homework Equations

I know how to find Latitude and Departure after converting Bearing into AZ= Distance*cos(AZ) for lat and Distance*sin(AZ) for departure, but I don't know where to begin on this problem... please help point me in the right direction!

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[NascentOxygen]

Your textbook would have explained the question quite clearly. So I'm wondering why have you omitted this explanation? Check that what you have represented by ? are precisely correct. In this line, what possibilities are there that the ? can represent: BC 88.43 ?

Did you invent this header, or did your textbook really use this: Line distance bearing

 

[raiderUM]

This is not a question out of a textbook. What I have posted is the only data I have to close the traverse, and the "Line distance bearing" represents three different columns headings used to describe the data below. The "?" are the missing pieces of data that are needed to close the traverse. What I'm trying to figure out is what would help me find the information needed to solve this mathematically.

 

[NascentOxygen]

This is not a question out of a textbook.

Where did you get the question from? Your data doesn't make sense.

 

[raiderUM]

How does the data not make sense? The question is from a test. "Line" AB has a "distance" of 164.96 and a "bearing" of N 71-12-01 E and so on...

 

[NascentOxygen]

It's important to put a lot of effort into getting the diagram correct* before plunging into the calculations. Take 2 sheets of paper (more, actually, because there will be some trial-and-error to get the sketch looking right). On the first sheet, mark point A right on the bottom edge of the page and draw vector AB as a line 71^o east of north. and (choosing a scale) of length 164. Mark end point B.

Take the second piece of paper, and, starting somewhere, draw a dotted line 44^o west of south and of any length (since we don't know its length). Mark end D. At point D, draw vector DE, then draw EA. If some of this runs off the page, throw it away and start again.

When finished sketching the vectors, overlap the pages so that both points A coincide, and give zero misclose of the figure. You can now sketch in a vector BC. We can't precisely locate point C, so sketch it as best you can.

Now, use your trig skills to derive equations for the sum of the "latitudes", and equate this to 0. Similarly for the total departures. When you encounter any unknowns, assign them a letter of the alphabet.

That should get you started.

* and if you're male it's doubly important, because the male brain is highly visual