Thread: Trigonometry word problem

56. The planet Mercury completes one rotation on its axis every 59 days. Through what angle (measured in degrees) does it rotate in
a) one day
b) one hour
c) one minute


To solve it, would you take 360 degrees divided by 59, which would give us 6.1 degrees and then further it from there by 24 and then by 60 to get the question?
I'm confused because I would think that the measurements would have to be the same to divide them...or am I on the right track? Thanks in advanced!

Yes your approach is correct.

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[crap]
Provided the concept of day , hour and minute are that of earth.
Technically, for any planet a day means time it takes to complete one rotation on its axis. Like earth takes 24 hrs to complete one rotation on its axis so the day on earth means 24 hrs.

ohh I am talking crap. Just leave it.. your approach is right..
[/crap]
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Originally Posted by tiar

56. The planet Mercury completes one rotation on its axis every 59 days. Through what angle (measured in degrees) does it rotate in
a) one day
b) one hour
c) one minute


To solve it, would you take 360 degrees divided by 59, which would give us 6.1 degrees and then further it from there by 24 and then by 60 to get the question?
I'm confused because I would think that the measurements would have to be the same to divide them...or am I on the right track? Thanks in advanced!

(a) 1/59 x 360 = ans for a

(b)1/24 x ans for a = ans for b

(c)1/60 x ans for b = ans for c .

Originally Posted by mathaddict

(a) 1/59 x 360 = ans for a

(b)1/24 x ans for a = ans for b

(c)1/60 x ans for b = ans for c .

Oh! Thank you so much, that makes a lot of sense.