A ship sails 40 miles SOUTH and 15 miles EAST. Find the bearing from where it began? HELP.

Answer 1

make a sketch to complete a right-angled triangle in quadrant IV
tanØ = 15/40
Ø = 20.56°

using North as 0°, the bearing is 159.44°

http://www.mathsteacher.com.au/year7/ch08_angles/07_bear/bearing.htm

alternate way to state the direction is S 20.56° E