Question

A ship is 2.2° off course. If the ship is traveling at 18.0 miles per hour, how far off course will it be after 5 hours?

Answer 1

___x____
\ |
\ |
\ | y
18 \ |
\ |
\ *|---2.2 °

This is a vector problem. The distance of drift is in x (horizontal axis).
remember that Sin Ф=opposite/hypotenuse. x represents the opposite side form the angle, and 18 is the hypotenuse.
Sin 2.2°=x/18
18 sin 2.2°=x
.691 ≈x

The ship drifts off course .691 miles every hour. .691 x 5 = 5.69 miles after 5 hours.