Math Is Fun Forum

mathland

Member

Registered: 2021-03-25

Posts: 444

Airplane Distance

An airplane flies from
Naples, Italy, in a
straight line to Rome,
Italy, which is
120 kilometers north
and 150 kilometers
west of Naples. How
far does the plane fly?

Set Up:

a^2 + b^2 = d^2, where d is the distance between
Naples and Rome.

(120)^2 + (150)^2 = d^2

Correct?

Bob

Administrator

Registered: 2010-06-20

Posts: 10,580

Re: Airplane Distance

I think the questioner intended exactly that.

Strictly, when a plane travels above the surface of the Earth, it has to follow a curved path as the Earth isn't flat.  But the calculations for that would be well beyond the level of the other questions you are doing so I don't think the questioner meant for you do do spherical trigonometry. ( and you'd have to be told the altitude etc)

Bob

---

Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob

mathland

Member

Registered: 2021-03-25

Posts: 444

Re: Airplane Distance

I think the questioner intended exactly that.

Strictly, when a plane travels above the surface of the Earth, it has to follow a curved path as the Earth isn't flat.  But the calculations for that would be well beyond the level of the other questions you are doing so I don't think the questioner meant for you do do spherical trigonometry. ( and you'd have to be told the altitude etc)

Bob

This is a precalculus question.  No advanced trigonometry needed. I simply want to know if the set up is correct. It believe that it is. It is a test of the Pythagorean Theorem. Agree?

Bob

Administrator

Registered: 2010-06-20

Posts: 10,580

Re: Airplane Distance

yes.  Pythag.

B.

---

Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob

mathland

Member

Registered: 2021-03-25

Posts: 444

Re: Airplane Distance

yes.  Pythag.

B.

That was easy. Thanks. I can do this forever. I just like math so much.