Problema Solution

larry rows a boat 54 northeast at a rate of 8 mi/h. the current pushes the boat 30 west of south at a rate of 6 mi/h. find the approximate resultant speed and direction of the boat. round to the nearest tenth.

Answer provided by our tutors

The vectors are 8 mi/h and 6 mi/h at angles 54 NE and 30 WS. 

The components along the east-west direction:

8/x=sin(54)

click here to easterly component

x=9.89

6/x=cos(30)

click here for westerly component

x=6.92

The components along the north-south direction:

8/x=cos(54)

click here for northward component

x=13.61

6/x=sin(30)

click here for southward component

x=12

the result components:

13.61-12=1.61 [northward resultant]

9.89-6.92=2.97 [easterly resultant]

So Larry is rowing northward at 1.61 mi/h with an easterly component of 2.97 mi/h.