A boat travels due North at 5km/h for 3 hours, then changes course and sails due east for 2 hours, adjusting his speed to 8km/h. What is his total displacement from his original position?
- Begin by setting up the problem with a diagram. Yu should draw a right angled triangle, with currently unknown lengths.2) Calculate the distance travelled for the two parts of the journey. Use Distance = speed x time, i.e. for the first part the distance travelled will be 15km and for the second part, 16km.3) Use Pythagoras' theorem to determine the length of the hypotenuse, i.e. the total displacement. displacement = (152 + 162)1/2 = 29.1km
EC
Related Maths GCSE answers
All answers ▸Solve the simultaneous equations: 4x + 7y = 1, 3x + 10y = 15.
What is the significance of the number e (Euler's number)?
The Tour de France is 2162miles long. A cyclist knows his average speed his 12.37 miles/hour from his previous races. For the Tour de France the cyclist knows he will cycle for 10 hours a day. Estimate how many days it will take him to complete the race.
The point P has coordinates (3, 4) The point Q has coordinates (a, b) A line perpendicular to PQ is given by the equation 3x + 2y = 7 Find an expression for b in terms of a.