Question

A plane flies 120km on a bearing of 045 degree and then flies 150km due east. How far east of the starting point is the plane?

Answer 1

In my sketch the angle between their flights is 135°
So wouldn't we just have the cosine law??

x^2 = 120^2 + 150^2 - 2(120)(150)cos135°
carry on, take care with the cos135, since it will be negative

Answer 2

since all we're interested in is the eastward distance, just add up the x-components of the two legs of the trip.
The first leg puts you 120 sin45° = 120/√2 km east
then add the next leg, which puts you another 150 km east
...

Answer 3

d = 120*sin45 + 150 =

Answer 4

Aley