trig question

Clifford

Junior Member
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Nov 15, 2006
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81
Determine the direction the swimmer would have to aim to land directly across from his starting position if he can swim at a speed of 0.75 m/s in still water and the current is 0.56 m/s.

sinA = 0.56 / 0.75
A = 48 degrees

He would need to swim 48 degrees upstream.

The answer in my book says it should be 42 degrees, which would mean you would be using cosine instead of sine. When I first did the problem this is the way I did it, and after looking at it again I still think it should be set up this way. Am I incorrect, or is the book incorrect?
 
your welcome
Do notify the publisher. The proof reader was supposed to catch those errors. He calculated as if he was determining the velocity the swimmer is making towards the other shore.
Arthur
 
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