When bearing is given as a single angle measure, how is the angle represented in a sketch?
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Textbook Solutions for Trigonometry
Question
(Modeling) Stopping Distance on a Curve Refer to Exercise 41. When an automobile travels along a circular curve, objects like trees and buildings situated on the inside of the curve can obstruct the drivers vision. These obstructions prevent the driver from seeing sufficiently far down the highway to ensure a safe stopping distance. In the figure, the minimum distance d that should be cleared on the inside of the highway is modeled by the equation d = R a1 - cos u 2 b . (Source: Mannering, F. and W. Kilareski, Principles of Highway Engineering and Traffic Analysis, Second Edition, John Wiley and Sons.) Not to scale R R d (a) It can be shown that if u is measured in degrees, then u _ 57.3S R , where S is the safe stopping distance for the given speed limit. Compute d to the nearest foot for a 55 mph speed limit if S = 336 ft and R = 600 ft. (b) Compute d to the nearest foot for a 65 mph speed limit given S = 485 ft and R = 600 ft. (c) How does the speed limit affect the amount of land that should be cleared on the inside of the curve?
Solution
The first step in solving 2.5 problem number 43 trying to solve the problem we have to refer to the textbook question: (Modeling) Stopping Distance on a Curve Refer to Exercise 41. When an automobile travels along a circular curve, objects like trees and buildings situated on the inside of the curve can obstruct the drivers vision. These obstructions prevent the driver from seeing sufficiently far down the highway to ensure a safe stopping distance. In the figure, the minimum distance d that should be cleared on the inside of the highway is modeled by the equation d = R a1 - cos u 2 b . (Source: Mannering, F. and W. Kilareski, Principles of Highway Engineering and Traffic Analysis, Second Edition, John Wiley and Sons.) Not to scale R R d (a) It can be shown that if u is measured in degrees, then u _ 57.3S R , where S is the safe stopping distance for the given speed limit. Compute d to the nearest foot for a 55 mph speed limit if S = 336 ft and R = 600 ft. (b) Compute d to the nearest foot for a 65 mph speed limit given S = 485 ft and R = 600 ft. (c) How does the speed limit affect the amount of land that should be cleared on the inside of the curve?
From the textbook chapter Further Applications of Right Triangles you will find a few key concepts needed to solve this.
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