Question

A snowmobiler travels 65km [37° E of S]. How far east does she travel?

Answer 1

39.1 km

Explanation:

To better understand the problem, we make a sketch, like this:

Therefore, we can determine the distance east with the cosine function, like this:

`\begin{gathered} \cos\theta=\frac{\text{ adjacent}}{\text{ hypotenuse}} \\ \\ \theta=53\degree \\ \\ \text{ adjacent =}E \\ \\ \text{ hypotenuse = 65} \\ \\ \text{ We replacing:} \\ \\ \cos53\degree=(E)/(65) \\ \\ E=65\cdot\cos53\degree \\ \\ E=39.1\text{ km} \end{gathered}`

The distance to the east is 39.1 km