Question

I can't figure this part out..

Riggins runs the football 82 yds downfield before he is tackled. The straight-line distance between where he began the run and where he was tackled is 71 yd. The line makes an angle of 20° with the right side line. How many yards did Riggins gain in this play?

Answer 1

Straight line distance between the position where Riggins began to run and where he was tacked, D = 71 yd.

Angle of this line with the right side line, = 20 deg

Hence, X- component of the distance, Dx = D*cos = 71*cos20 = 66.72 yd

Y- component of the distnace, Dy = D*sin = 71*sin20 = 24.28 yd

So, when Riggins was tackled, his final position was 66.72 yards toward the goal line and 24.28 yards to the left of the right side line.

Therefore, no. of yards gained by Riggins in the play = 66.72 yards. (Answer)