Asked by Annie

In still air, an airplane is flying at 100 mph. It encounters a wind blowing toward the west at 50 mph. What should be the plane's compass heading for its course to be N30ºW?

Answers

Answered by Steve
If the plane is flying on heading NθE, then we want

100sinθ-50 = -v/2
100cosθ = v √3/2

100sinθ = 50-v/2
100cosθ = v√3/2

(50-v/2)^2 + 3/4 v^2 = 100^2
v = 115.14

So, cosθ = .997
θ = 4.3º

and the heading is N4.3ºE
Answered by Annie
Could you explain the (50-v/2)^2 + 3/4v^2 = 100^2 part? I'm a little confused.
Answered by Steve
square the previous equations and add them up. Recall that

sin^2θ + cos^2θ = 1
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