A cyclist travel 2.5km east then 10.0km south and finally 5.0km west.Determine thecyclistcyclist's overall displacement from their starting point.

3 answers

total west = 5 - 2.5 = 2.5
total south =10
total magnitude = sqrt (10^2 + 2.5)^2

tangent of angle west of south = 2.5/10 = .25
you have to convert the tangentTheta to a direction.
Disp. = 2.5 - 10i - 5 = -2.5 - 10i = 10.31km[76o] S. of W. = 10.31km[256o] CCW from+x-axis.

Tan A = Y/X = (-10)/(-2.5).