Head-Scatcher (Trigononmetry)

infinitebrain · 2011-01-25 13:16:18

Captain Malloy is flying a passenger jet. He is heading east at 720km/hr when he sees an electrical storm straight ahead. He turns the jet 20 degress to the north to avoid the storm and continues in this direction for 1 hr. Then he makes a second turn, back toward his original flight path. Eighty minutes after his second turn, he makes a third turn and is back on course. By avoiding the storm, how much time did Captain Malloy lose from his original flight plan.

Last edited by infinitebrain (2011-01-25 13:33:31)

All_Is_Number · 2011-01-25 13:28:47

Hint: use the Pythagorean Theorem to determine how much extra distance was flown, and then calculate the amount of time required to fly that extra distance.

Last edited by All_Is_Number (2011-01-25 13:30:51)

bobbym · 2011-01-25 17:01:08

Hi all;

Capt. Edward Malloy ( retired now ) happens to be a friend of mine. I asked him about that day, here is what he said.

Capt. Malloy: Ho, ho that was a day! What a day that was, hee,hee,hee. It was the worst storm I ever saw bobbym. Sprawls everywhere. Rain like steel knives coming at ya, We barely had...

bobbym: Captain, captain about the answer, just the answer please...

Capt. M: Okay, check out my flight plan below. Made my first turn at A. Went 720 km's, made my second turn at C went 960 km's. Got back on course with my third turn at B. I flew for 2 hour and 20 minutes, before I got back on course cough cough cough.

bobbym: Easy sir.

Capt M: By the law of cosines the bottom leg of that triangle ( c ) is:

c = 1604.457299 km's

Huff, huff, trouble with my breathing.

bobbym: Take it easy Captain, you are doing fine.

Capt. M: Since I was in the air 2 hrs and 20 min I should have travelled

2 (720 ) + 240 = 1680 km's easterly but I only travelled 1604.457299 km's easterly. The difference is 75.542700 km's. In time that amounts to 6.295 minutes. Cough, cough, cough.

bobbym; So you are saying you were only delayed 6.295 minutes, thanks alot Captain and take care of that cough.

infinitebrain · 2011-01-26 14:32:13

very ductible thinking to both of you

Of course the answer I found was the "dumbed" down answer

bobbym · 2011-01-26 15:07:43

Hi infinitebrain;

The dumbed down version? You mean the one I can do is not the dumbed down version?

infinitebrain · 2011-01-27 10:48:38

Well yours simplies it to just one line. I called mine the "dumbed down" version because I used the sine of 20 degrees to basically work it from there with a series of baby steps.

bobbym · 2011-01-27 10:57:47

Hi infinitebrain;

Capt. Malloy sends his regards and appreciates that someone still remembers that day.

MathsIsFun · 2011-01-27 11:57:16

Malloy? Capt Malloy? I remember now ... I was in row 15 ... rough flight, but we made it!

Send my thanks please bobby.

bobbym · 2011-01-27 14:41:28

I will MIF. The Captain saved a lot lives that day.

Math Is Fun Forum

#1 2011-01-25 13:16:18

Head-Scatcher (Trigononmetry)

#2 2011-01-25 13:28:47

Re: Head-Scatcher (Trigononmetry)

#3 2011-01-25 17:01:08

Re: Head-Scatcher (Trigononmetry)

#4 2011-01-26 14:32:13

Re: Head-Scatcher (Trigononmetry)

#5 2011-01-26 15:07:43

Re: Head-Scatcher (Trigononmetry)

#6 2011-01-27 10:48:38

Re: Head-Scatcher (Trigononmetry)

#7 2011-01-27 10:57:47

Re: Head-Scatcher (Trigononmetry)

#8 2011-01-27 11:57:16

Re: Head-Scatcher (Trigononmetry)

#9 2011-01-27 14:41:28

Re: Head-Scatcher (Trigononmetry)

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