What is the distance and direction between city A and city C?

  • Thread starter hrgardner33
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In summary, the problem involves an airplane traveling from city A to city B, then to city C in a non-right-angled triangle. To find the straight-line distance from city C to city A, the Pythagorean theorem can be used by creating a right-angled triangle and using sine and cosine functions. The direction of city C relative to city A is 34.5 degrees north of west, assuming a rotation of the negative x-axis in a clockwise direction.
  • #1
hrgardner33
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Homework Statement



An airplane flies 200 km due west from city A to city B and then 345 km in the direction of 34.5° north of west from city B to city C. In straight-line distance, how far is city C from city A? Relative to city A, in what direction is city C?


Homework Equations



The Pythagorean theorem


The Attempt at a Solution



398.78 km
 
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  • #2


The Pythagorean theorem is about right-angled triangles. The triangle ABC in your problem is not right-angled.

The way to solve this would be: draw the situation, then try to make some right-angled triangle, calculate the length of its sides using sine and cosine functions and then use the Pythagorean theorem.
 
  • #3


I don't know how to draw 34.5 degrees north of west.
 
  • #4


Yeah I can understand that, I do not find it very clear terminology either, but I am assuming they meant rotating the negative x-axis (i.e. west) 34.5 degrees in clockwise direction (i.e. towards north).
 
  • #5


To solve this problem, we can use the Pythagorean theorem to find the straight-line distance between city A and city C. First, we can break down the distances traveled into their respective components. The distance between city A and B, which is 200 km due west, can be represented as 200 km in the x-direction and 0 km in the y-direction. The distance between city B and C, which is 345 km at an angle of 34.5° north of west, can be represented as 279.69 km in the x-direction and 189.55 km in the y-direction.

Next, we can use the Pythagorean theorem to find the straight-line distance between city A and C. This can be done by taking the square root of the sum of the squares of the x and y components. So, the distance between city A and C is √(200² + 279.69² + 0² + 189.55²) = 398.78 km.

In terms of direction, city C is located in the fourth quadrant relative to city A. This means that it is south of city A and west of city A. To find the exact direction, we can use trigonometry to find the angle between city A and C. This can be done by taking the inverse tangent of the y and x components of the distance between city A and C. So, the angle is tan^-1(189.55/279.69) = 34.5° north of west. This means that city C is located 34.5° north of west relative to city A.
 

1. What is a vector and how is it used in the city-to-city problem?

A vector is a mathematical tool used to represent a quantity that has both magnitude and direction. In the city-to-city problem, vectors are used to represent the distance between two cities and the direction in which the cities are located relative to each other.

2. How are vectors calculated in the city-to-city problem?

To calculate the vector between two cities, the coordinates of each city are first determined using latitude and longitude. Then, using a formula such as the Haversine formula, the distance between the two cities can be calculated. Finally, the direction of the vector can be determined using trigonometric functions.

3. Are there any limitations to using vectors in the city-to-city problem?

One limitation of using vectors in the city-to-city problem is that they only represent the shortest distance between two cities, which may not always be the most practical route. Additionally, vectors do not take into account factors such as traffic, road closures, or detours that may affect travel time.

4. How do vectors help solve the city-to-city problem?

Vectors help solve the city-to-city problem by providing a mathematical representation of the distance and direction between two cities. This allows for more accurate calculations and predictions of travel time and distance, which can be useful for planning trips or determining the most efficient routes.

5. Can vectors be used to solve more complex city-to-city problems?

Yes, vectors can be used to solve more complex city-to-city problems, such as determining the optimal route for multiple stops or factoring in multiple modes of transportation. However, additional factors and calculations may need to be considered in these scenarios.

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