Bearing - Trigonometry
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Which of the following diagrams could show a bearing of 
?
Which of the following diagrams could show a bearing of 
The bearing of a point B from a point A in a horizontal plane is defined as the acute angle made by the ray drawn from A through B with the north-south line through A. The bearing is read from the north or south line toward the east or west. Bearing is typically only represented in degrees (or degrees and minutes) rather than radians. To find 
, start in the south direction, then move 
towards the west:
The other incorrect answer choices provided depict 
, 
, and 
.
The bearing of a point B from a point A in a horizontal plane is defined as the acute angle made by the ray drawn from A through B with the north-south line through A. The bearing is read from the north or south line toward the east or west. Bearing is typically only represented in degrees (or degrees and minutes) rather than radians. To find 
The other incorrect answer choices provided depict 
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Which of the following could represent an aeronautical bearing of 
?
Which of the following could represent an aeronautical bearing of 
The correct image depicting an aeronautical bearing of 
is
This image begins at north, and moves 
clockwise from it.
Three of the given incorrect answers depict 
, 
, 
. The fourth incorrect answer does not represent a standard bearing convention as it is neither an acute angle, nor in the clockwise direction. That incorrect answer looks like:
The correct image depicting an aeronautical bearing of 
This image begins at north, and moves 
Three of the given incorrect answers depict 
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The following diagram could represent which one of these practical scenarios?
The following diagram could represent which one of these practical scenarios?
This question and its answer choices give you a few clues to work with. First, we need to identify the bearing angle being shown. The options in the answer choices are either 
, 
, or 
. Because the angle begins in the south direction and moves 
towards the west, the correct bearing is 
. That means only two of the answer choices could be correct. We now need to understand how the 
miles per hour corresponds to the problem. Notice that there is no answer choice that has the bearing of 
and velocity of 
miles per hour. Rather, we need to choose between 
miles per hour for 
hours or 
miles per hour for 
hours. Because 
miles per hour for 
hours corresponds to 
(whereas the other option corresponds to only 
), the correct answer is "A motorboat traveling 
at 
miles per hour for 
hours."
This question and its answer choices give you a few clues to work with. First, we need to identify the bearing angle being shown. The options in the answer choices are either 
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A ship moves in the direction 
at a speed of 
miles per hour for 
hours. How far south and how far east is the ship from its starting position?
A ship moves in the direction 
First, let's set up a diagram using the given information. This looks like this:
Next, let's convert this info into a triangle so that we can use trigonometry to solve the problem. We need to calculate that the ship going 
miles per hour for 
hours will have traveled 
miles.
Now we can use trigonometry to determine the missing sides, s and e.
Therefore the ship has travelled 181.87 miles south and 105 miles east.
First, let's set up a diagram using the given information. This looks like this:
Next, let's convert this info into a triangle so that we can use trigonometry to solve the problem. We need to calculate that the ship going 
Now we can use trigonometry to determine the missing sides, s and e.
Therefore the ship has travelled 181.87 miles south and 105 miles east.
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An airplane is traveling at a bearing of 
from north for 330 kilometers. How far south and how far east is the plane from its starting point?
An airplane is traveling at a bearing of 
First, let's incorporate the given information into a diagram. Start by labelling the plane's bearing of 
along with its velocity 330km. Next, draw a line segment to complete the triangle and determine the measures of the angles of the triangle. We can determine the angle 
, we constructed the diagram such that there is a right angle, and finally we can find the third angle by taking 
.
The question is asking us how far south and how far east the plane is from its starting point, so we need to now use trigonometry to determine the lengths of the missing sides of the triangle. We will call these sides s for the southward distance and e for the eastward distance.
km
km
Therefore the airplane is 139.46 km south of its starting point and 299.08 km east of its starting point.
First, let's incorporate the given information into a diagram. Start by labelling the plane's bearing of 
The question is asking us how far south and how far east the plane is from its starting point, so we need to now use trigonometry to determine the lengths of the missing sides of the triangle. We will call these sides s for the southward distance and e for the eastward distance.
Therefore the airplane is 139.46 km south of its starting point and 299.08 km east of its starting point.
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Three ships are positioned in the following way: Ship A is 240 miles due west of Ship C, and Ship B is due south of Ship C. Ship B bears 
from Ship A. How far is Ship B from Ship A? How far is Ship B from Ship C? What is the bearing from Ship A to Ship B?
Three ships are positioned in the following way: Ship A is 240 miles due west of Ship C, and Ship B is due south of Ship C. Ship B bears 
To solve this problem, begin with a diagram, and label all known information. We know that we can label two angles as 
and one length as 240. Then, by deductive reasoning, we can label another angle as 
because 
.
Next, we need to use trigonometry to find the answers to each question we're being asked. To find the distance AB, set up
Next, we can find the distance BC. There are two ways to do this since we know two angles of the triangle, but either way you need to use the tangent function.
Finally, we are asked to find the bearing from Ship B to A. Be careful, because in the initial problem we are given the Bearing from Ship A to Ship B. While the angle will remain the same, the direction is different because we are starting at a different initial point (B instead of A). With B as your starting point, A is north and west. Therefore the bearing from Ship B to Ship A is 
.
Therefore the correct distance between Ships A and B is 640.67 miles, the distance between ships B and C is 594.02 miles, and the bearing from Ship B to Ship A is 
.
To solve this problem, begin with a diagram, and label all known information. We know that we can label two angles as 
Next, we need to use trigonometry to find the answers to each question we're being asked. To find the distance AB, set up
Next, we can find the distance BC. There are two ways to do this since we know two angles of the triangle, but either way you need to use the tangent function.
Finally, we are asked to find the bearing from Ship B to A. Be careful, because in the initial problem we are given the Bearing from Ship A to Ship B. While the angle will remain the same, the direction is different because we are starting at a different initial point (B instead of A). With B as your starting point, A is north and west. Therefore the bearing from Ship B to Ship A is 
Therefore the correct distance between Ships A and B is 640.67 miles, the distance between ships B and C is 594.02 miles, and the bearing from Ship B to Ship A is 
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Three cruise ships are situated as follows: Sea Terraformer is 200 miles due north of Wave Catcher, and Island Pioneer is 345 miles due east of Wave Catcher. What is the bearing from Island Pioneer to Sea Terraformer, and what is the bearing from Sea Terraformer to Island Pioneer?
Three cruise ships are situated as follows: Sea Terraformer is 200 miles due north of Wave Catcher, and Island Pioneer is 345 miles due east of Wave Catcher. What is the bearing from Island Pioneer to Sea Terraformer, and what is the bearing from Sea Terraformer to Island Pioneer?
Begin by diagramming the given information; you'll see that the three ships create a right triangle. To solve the question, we need to find the unknown angles of the triangle, then frame our answers as the proper bearings.
First let's solve for the topmost angle in the diagram, which we'll call 
.
By alternate interior angles, the other diagrammed angle will also be equal to 
.
Now, put your cursor on Island Pioneer, and see if you need to move north or south, and then east or west to get to Sea Terraformer. You need to move north, then west. Therefore the bearing between Island Pioneer and Sea Terraformer is 
. Now put your cursor on Sea Terraformer and complete the same process to get to Island Pioneer; you'll go south, then east. Therefore the bearing from Sea Terraformer to Island Pioneer is 
.
Begin by diagramming the given information; you'll see that the three ships create a right triangle. To solve the question, we need to find the unknown angles of the triangle, then frame our answers as the proper bearings.
First let's solve for the topmost angle in the diagram, which we'll call 
By alternate interior angles, the other diagrammed angle will also be equal to 
Now, put your cursor on Island Pioneer, and see if you need to move north or south, and then east or west to get to Sea Terraformer. You need to move north, then west. Therefore the bearing between Island Pioneer and Sea Terraformer is 
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