A boy on a treasure hunt walks 10 paces west then 20 paces north then 27 paces east. what is the boy s resultant displacement give magnitude and direction?

Answer 1

When we add up the vectors we are left with 17 paces east and 20 paces north.

Tan(x) = opp/adj = 17/20 x = 40.4o - remember that this is degrees from North

We can then work out the distance using trig or pythagora's theorem.

I'll use pythagora's theorem: srt(20^2 + 17^2) = 26.2 paces

ok, but is the direction 26.2 paces North? because you have to give magnitude and direction.

The magnitude is 26.2 paces

The direction is 40.4 degrees

we measure degrees clockwise from north - exactly like on a compas or protractor.

Thirty