Question

Two men P and Q set off from a base camp R, prospecting for oil. P moves 20km on a bearing of 205° and Q moves 15km on a bearing of 060°. Calculate the:

(a) distance of Q from P ;
(b) bearing of Q from P.

Answer 1

The student's question on vector addition and bearings in mathematics can be answered using trigonometric methods to calculate the relative distance and bearing of one point from another after separate displacements.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question involves finding the resultant vector when two separate displacements are combined. Two men P and Q moving from a base camp R on different bearings form vectors that, when combined, can be solved using trigonometric methods. For man P moving 20km on a bearing of 205° and man Q moving 15km on a bearing of 060°, we can use vector addition to calculate their relative positions and bearings from each other. The calculation involves breaking down the movements into north-south and east-west components and then using the Pythagorean theorem and trigonometry to find the distance and bearing of Q from P.