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

infinitebrain
Member
Registered: 2008-07-01
Posts: 153

Head-Scatcher (Trigononmetry)

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)


The best thing about life is you don't know what to expect

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

All_Is_Number
Member
Registered: 2006-07-10
Posts: 258

Re: Head-Scatcher (Trigononmetry)

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)


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

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Head-Scatcher (Trigononmetry)

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.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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

infinitebrain
Member
Registered: 2008-07-01
Posts: 153

Re: Head-Scatcher (Trigononmetry)

very ductible thinking to both of you
roflol 
Of course the answer I found was the "dumbed" down answer


The best thing about life is you don't know what to expect

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

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Head-Scatcher (Trigononmetry)

Hi infinitebrain;

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


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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

infinitebrain
Member
Registered: 2008-07-01
Posts: 153

Re: Head-Scatcher (Trigononmetry)

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. smile


The best thing about life is you don't know what to expect

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

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Head-Scatcher (Trigononmetry)

Hi infinitebrain;

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


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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

MathsIsFun
Administrator
Registered: 2005-01-21
Posts: 7,711

Re: Head-Scatcher (Trigononmetry)

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

Send my thanks please bobby.


"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..."  - Leon M. Lederman

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

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Head-Scatcher (Trigononmetry)

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


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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