Name: ____________________________________________________________________ Due Date: Friday, December 6

Vectors on Vacation
Introduction:
You are planning the greatest vacation of all time with 3 of your best friends. On this vacation, you are
able to travel to 2 different cities, anywhere in the world. Since you are the coolest friend, you are also
going to be teaching your friends the mathematics involved in your trip as you go along.
Project Requirements:
1. All work must be shown neatly on paper and attached to final project (must be hand-written)
2. All answers must be entered on the Answer Sheet provided.
3. If you consult with another person, cite their name(s) at the bottom of your project
4. Please round to the nearest tenth for every calculation.
Website/Formula Needed:
 DMS  XY Coordinate
http://bit.ly/vectorvacation
Longitude is E/W and Latitude is N/S (make sure S and W coordinates are negative)
 Meters Miles: 1 meter = 0.000621271 miles
Project Parts:
A. Write out the names and DMS locations of the 3 airports (longitude and latitude) that correspond
to the places you will be traveling to in the order that you will be visiting them. The first airport
should be RDU.
B. Convert the DMS locations into rectangular points (x, y) for all 3 locations (in miles) using the
website provided.
C. Use the coordinates of RDU and City #1 to find:
a. The vector (in component form) that the airplane will be using to travel.
b. The magnitude of the vector
c. The direction angle of the vector in relation to the equator (x axis)
D. Use the coordinates of City #1 and City #2 to find:
a. The vector (in component form) that the airplane will be using to travel.
b. The magnitude of the vector
c. The direction angle of the vector in relation to the equator (x axis)
E. Use the coordinates of City #2 and RDU to find:
a. The vector (in component form) that the airplane will be using to travel.
b. The magnitude of the vector
c. The direction angle of the vector in relation to the equator (x axis)
F. Create a graph that represents your 3 airports. Make sure that your scale makes sense with your
coordinates and that your axes are labeled.
G. Find the interior angles of the triangle formed by the airplanes (there should be 3).
H. Suppose you don’t have a direct flight from RDU to City #1. Choose a new airport for your layover.
a. Find the DMS locations of the layover airport
b. Convert the DMS location to a rectangular point (x, y)
c. Find the vector from RDU to the layover airport and the vector from the layover airport to
City #1.
d. What is the difference in miles traveled when you have a layover versus your direct flight
to City #1?
e. Find the interior angle created by traveling from RDU  Layover city  City #1.
 Vector Project Rubric

Names & DMS locations of 3 airports ___________/3

Correct rectangular form in miles of each airport (x,y) ___________/6 (2 ea.)
RDU and City #1:
Vector (in component form) RDU to first city. ___________/2
Correct magnitude of vector ___________/1
Correct direction angle of vector: ___________/2
City #1 and City #2:
Vector (in component form) first city to second city ___________/2
Correct magnitude of vector ___________/1
Correct direction angle of vector: ___________/2
City #2 and RDU:
Vector (in component form) second city to RDU ___________/2
Correct magnitude of vector ___________/1
Correct direction angle of vector: ___________/2
Graph of Trip
Graph is accurate & correctly labeled showing the Prime Meridian and Equator ___________/6
Scale makes sense with the location of the cities ___________/1
Correct angles between each city (there should be 3). ___________/6 (2 ea.)
Layover airport
DMS locations of the layover airport ___________/2
Correct rectangular form of airport (x,y) ___________/2
Correct vectors from RDU to layover airport & from layover airport to City #1. ___________/4
Correct difference in mileage from direct route ___________/2
Correct angle travelling from RDU  Layover city  City #1. ___________/2
Project is neat, complete, and all work is clearly shown ___________/6
Total points (-10 points per day submitted after due date) ___________/55

*If you are not present on Friday, May 3 due to an absence, your project is still due on Friday, May
3. You may submit the project early.
 Name: ______________________________________________
Vectors on Vacation Answer Sheet
Part A
City and Airport Name Airport DMS

Part B
City (x, y) Coordinate

Part C
Vector Magnitude Direction Angle

Part D
Vector Magnitude Direction Angle

Part E
Vector Magnitude Direction Angle

Part G
Angle at RDU Angle at City 1 Angle at City 2

Part H
City and Airport Name Airport DMS Coordinate

Vector from RDU to Layover Airport Vector from Layover Airport to City 1

Difference in Mileage Traveled Angle Created by Layover