Question

an aircraft carrier leads port heading due west at 28 knots. A helicopter is 175 nautical miles from the carrier at an angle of 35 degrees south of west. What course should the helicopter travel at its cruising speed of 130 knots to intercept the aircraft carrier? (I need this fully worked out please)

Answer 1

Let’s say it takes time t hours for the interception.
In that time the carrier travels 28t nm west and the helicopter 130t nm.
Now we use the sine rule to find the angle x which lies between the distance 175 and 130t.
sin(x)/28t=sin35/130t. So sin(x)=28sin35/130=14sin35/65=0.1235 and x=7.0964 degrees.
Therefore the helicopter should use a bearing of 35+7.0964=42.0964 degrees north of east or 47.9 degrees east of north approx.