What is the displacement of the car from the point of origin?

[ace123]

A car is driven 215 km west and then 85 km southwest. What is the displacement of the car from the point of origin?

Shouldn't I be given an angle. Because it could be southwest at any angle. How would I do this?

Thanks for the help.

 

[arunbg]

Southwest usually means 45 degrees towards south, from west or vice-versa.

 

[ace123]

Really? Okay let me try that. But why would I be expected to know that? That's just stupid.

 

[ace123]

Well it worked. Thanks

 

[arunbg]

Take a look at a compass and see why ;)

 

[ace123]

Don't own a compass

 

[Delber]

It's just convention when mentioning southwest that the angle is 45 degrees. It is also true when saying southeast, northeast, northwest.

 

[arunbg]

 

[ace123]

lol thanks for providing a compass. But I've gotten this problem ages ago.