Answer to Question #20661 in Trigonometry for janus

Question

the westward and southward components of the velocity of a shipare 67 knots and 12.5 knots respectively. find the speed of the ship and direction in which she is sailing

Answer 1

According to the Pythagoras' theorem, the speed of the ship is

S = √((67[knot])² + (12.5[knot])²) ≈ 68.156[knot].

Direction of the ship is

α = π + cos^-1(12.5[knot]/68.156[knot]) ≈ 259°43'

(counting from the north as zero degree).