Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Bearing
Bearing is a navigation term that describes the direction of one point from another, measured in degrees from the north. In this problem, the bearings of the ships (52° and 322°) indicate their respective directions relative to true north. Understanding bearings is crucial for visualizing the paths of the ships and calculating the angle between them.
Velocity and Distance
Velocity is the speed of an object in a specific direction, expressed in units such as knots (nautical miles per hour). To find the distance traveled by each ship, multiply their speed by the time traveled. In this case, each ship's distance after 2.5 hours can be calculated, which is essential for determining how far apart they are.
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Law of Cosines
The Law of Cosines is a formula used in trigonometry to find the lengths of sides in a triangle when two sides and the included angle are known. In this scenario, it helps to calculate the distance between the two ships by treating their paths as sides of a triangle, where the angle between them can be derived from their bearings.
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