An airplane leaves an airport and flies due west 150 miles and then 240 miles in the direction 200°40'. Assuming the earth is flat, how far is the plane from the airport at this time (to the nearest mile)?

Question

An airplane leaves an airport and flies due west 150 miles and then 240 miles in the direction  200°40'. Assuming the earth is flat, how far is the plane from the airport at this time (to the nearest mile)?

blockcolder · Answer

Draw the triangle and use the law of cosines. :D

anonymous · Answer

thats it!?

anonymous · Answer

Can you show me what the triangle would look like?

blockcolder · Answer

First, clarify the 200°40' part for me: Is this assuming we are looking from above the sky with the 0° mark at the east or is this assuming that where the plane is facing is considered 0°?

anonymous · Answer

I have no clue, that is all the question said.

blockcolder · Answer

All right. This drawing should help.
|dw:1334671669501:dw|