Can someone give me a step-by-step process on how to solve this? I know the answer I just need to know how to do it for a test:

A man wishes to row the shortest possible distance from north to south across a river which is flowing at 2 km/hr from the east. He can row at 3 km/hr.

(a) In which direction should he steer?

(b) Suppose that when the man is in the middle of the river, a wind of 6 km/hr from the southwest starts.

In which direction should he steer to move straight across the river?

Question

Blast

Mathematics

16 September, 11:16

Can someone give me a step-by-step process on how to solve this? I know the answer I just need to know how to do it for a test:

A man wishes to row the shortest possible distance from north to south across a river which is flowing at 2 km/hr from the east. He can row at 3 km/hr.

(a) In which direction should he steer?

(b) Suppose that when the man is in the middle of the river, a wind of 6 km/hr from the southwest starts.

In which direction should he steer to move straight across the river?

+4

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Tiana Kidd · Answer 1

A) The shortest possible distance will be traveled if he moves straight from one side of the bank to the next, without any diagonal movement. Thus, he should steer southeast in order to counter the flow of the river from the east and also move towards his destination in a straight line.

b) The x-component of this wind can be calculated using:

Wx = 6cos (45)

Wx = 4.24 km/hr

This is greater than the opposing flow of the river from the east. Therefore, should row in a direction due south west to counter the wind's force as well as move towards his destination.