Trig Problem Please Help

Question

A car travels in the direction of 135°. What is its compass heading?

(In Degrees)

When I did the problem, I got 315°. Is that correct?

Answer 1

This problem uses two different angle systems.

For the standard mathematical angle system, the standard angles start at east and move counterclockwise which means:

0° = East

90° = North

180° = West

270° = South

The given direction is 135° which is halfway in between 90° and 180°. Therefore, the car is traveling Northwest according to the standard mathematical angle system.

In the compass-heading system, angles start at North and move clockwise which means:

0° = North

90° = East

180° = South

270° = West

Northwest is 45° counterclockwise from North. However, compass headings must be measured clockwise, so we go almost one full rotation so we subtract 45° from 360°.

360° - 45° = 315°

Therefore, the compass heading is 315°. So, your answer was correct Dee.

Answer 2

The question is ambiguous----"travelling in the direction" could mean the heading. If something is not given as a heading, then the reference needs to be stated.

Answer 3

At 135° you're traveling 45°se.

At 315° you're traveling 45°nw.