Answer:
She walked 28.7 miles west ⇒ answer a
Explanation:
A hiker walks 50 miles 55 degrees south of west
That means the magnitude of her displacement is 50 miles
55 degree south of west means the angle between her displacement
direction and the west is 55°
We need to find how far she walk west
Her walk to west is the horizontal component of her displacement
West is adjacent to the angle of direction
If the magnitude of her displacement is R and its direction is Ф, then
→ The horizontal component = R cos Ф
→ R = 50 miles , Ф = 55°
→ The horizontal component = 50 cos(55) = 28.7 miles
The horizontal component represents her walk to the west
She walked 28.7 miles west
