Question

A boat travels west at a speed of 20 m/s across a river that is flowing south at 9 m/s. What is the

resultant velocity of the boat?

Answer 1

22m/s

Step-by-step explanation:

This is a vector addition problem. First identify the two vectors: 20m/s in the -x direction and 9m/s in the -y direction. Since neither vector shares an axis component you can use the formula
`\sqrt{20^2+9^2\\` =21.93 (This is the Pythagorean Theorem where your non-hypotenuse sides are your velocity vectors). Round to 2 significant figures and you'll get 22m/s.