Question

The pilot of an aircraft wishes to fly due west in a 54-km/h wind blowing toward the south. If the speed of the aircraft relative to the air is 177 km/h, (a) in what direction (degrees north of west) should the aircraft head, and (b) what will be its speed (km/h) relative to the ground? Caution: The speed relative to the air is not the same as the speed relative to the ground. The pilot wishes to fly due west relative to the ground.

Answer 1

The above problem will be solved as follows

for answer(a), the direction should the aircraft head is 17.76 degrees of north of west.

for answer (b), we use Pythagarous theorem.