Question

A pilot flies in a straight path for 1 hour 30 minutes. She then makes a course correction, heading 45 degrees to the right of her original course, and flies 2 hours 15 minutes in the new direction. If she maintains a constant speed of 345 mi/h, how far is she from her starting position? Give your answer to the nearest mile.

Answer 1

1199 miles

Step-by-step explanation:

1 hour 30 minutes = 1 + 30/60 = 1.5 hours

2 hours 15 minutes = 2 + 15/60 = 2.25 hours

The distance she flew in the 1st segment is:

1.5*345 = 517.5 miles

The distance she flew in the 2nd segment is:

2.25 * 345 = 776.25 miles

Since the 2nd segment is 45 degree with respect to the 1st segment, this means that she has flown

776.25 * cos(45) = 549 miles in-line with the 1st segment and

776.25* sin(45) = 549 miles perpendicular to the 1st segment:

So the distance from the end to her starting position is

`√((517.5 + 549)^2 + 549^2) = 1199 miles`