Question

Natasha is 50 m due east of Michelle. Natasha walks 20 m due north, and Michelle walks 10 m due

Answer 1

Answer:

Let's define East as the positive x-axis and North as the positive y-axis.

If Michelle's initial position is (0, 0)m

We know that Nathasha is 50m due East of Michelle.

Then the position of Natasha is (50, 0)m

Now we know that Natasha walks 20m due North, then the new position of her's is:

(50, 0 + 20)m = (50, 20)m

While Michelle walks 10m due South (South would be the negative y-axis, then we subtract 10 meters)

Michelle's new position will be:

(0, 0 - 10)m = (0, -10)m

Now we want to know the distance and bearing of Michelle from Natasha.

First, remember that the distance between two points (a, b) and (c, d) is given by:

Distance = √( (a - c)^2 + (b - d)^2)

Then the distance between Michelle and Natasha is:

Distance = √( (50m - 0m)^2 + (20m - (-10m))^2)

Distance = √( (50m)^2 + (30m)^2) = 58.31m

Now to find the bearing you can see the image below:

Point B is Michelle's position and point A is Natasha's position.

To find the bearing, we can make a triangle rectangle as the one shown in the image:

Also remember the relation:

Tan(a) = (opposite cathetus)/(adjacent cathetus).

Where the opposite cathetus is the difference between the x-values of each position, this is:

opposite cathetus = 50m - 0m = 50m

And the adjacent cathetus is the difference between the y-values, this is:

adjacent cathetus = 20m - (-10m) = 30m

Then:

Tan(a) = 50m/30m

Tan(a) = 5/3

Now if we apply the inverse Tan function to both sides, Atan(x) we get:

Atan(Tan(a)) = Atan(5/3)

a = Atan(5/3) = 59°

So the bearing is of 59°.