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Please can someone solve this PZX triangle for me and give your workings.

Angle ZPX 040 degrees

Distance PZ 3000M (NM)

Distance PX 2000M (NM)

Thanks a million.

Mike

pzx navigational latitude

Find the PX:
1.LAT 39ﹾ 24’.1 N DEC. 33ﹾ 10.4 N
2.LAT.25ﹾ 47.6 N DEC. 46ﹾ 23.6 S
3.LAT.39ﹾ 15.5’ S DEC. 67ﹾ 3.7’ S
Find the PZ:
4.LAT. 35ﹾ 40’ N
5.LAT. 46ﹾ 50’ S
Find the ZX:
6. Altitude 46ﹾ 50’
7. Altitude 82ﹾ 36’
8. Altitude 38ﹾ 25’

I don't see why you have both M and (NM) following the length numbers. Are the dimensions meters, nanometers, miles of nautical miles? Your call.

After deciding what units you are talking about, let side PZ of the triangle be a and side PX be b.
The length of side ZX (c) can be obtained by using the law of cosines.
Angle C (opposite to c) is 40 degrees
c^2 = a^2 + b^2 - 2 a b cos C
c = 1951.3
The other two angles, A and B, can be obtained using the law of sines.
sin C/c = sin A/a = sin B/b

If the dimensions are nautical miles, or miles, then the triangle covers a large fraction of the curved earth, and different equations of spherical trigonometry must be used. If that is the case, ignore my previous answer. The radius of the earth must be used to solve the triangle. Someone else may be able to help you.

Thank you drwls,

The accepted format for determining nautical miles is a capital M. I put NM just in case someone was confused. Sorry for the additional confusion.

Now to the problem.

Again the PZX triangle is to do with celestial navigation and I understand spherical trigonometery is appropriate.

I am able to find all the formulas required on line but simply do not understand how to progress.

As with all things I am sure it is simple when you know how.

Thanks

Mike

One degree of great circle = 60 NM

little letters for sides (expressed as degrees or divided by 60 to give NM), big letters for angles
So side z = 2000/60 = 33.3 deg
and side x =3000/60 = 50 deg
now use law of cosines (spherical version) to find side p
cos p= cos z cos x + sin z sin x cos P
cos p = .836(.643)+.549(.766)(.766)
cos p = .860
p = 30.7 deg
that times 60 = 1841 NM for third great circle distance
then use law of sines to get the other two angles
p =

Thanks Damon,

This is beginning to make sense.

I have printed your answer for future reference.

Something I am not aware of is what tools do I need to complete these calculations.

Do I need tables and/or a calculator?

Additionally I am unsure how you have arrived at p = .860

I am sorry but these calculations are still a total mystery to me.

I do not understand what to do when I see .836(.643)

I think it is just that I am unaware of procedures.

Should I multiply .836 by .643 ?

Then multiply .549 by .766 by .766 ?

Then add the 2 answers together ?

Thanks

Mike

Should I multiply .836 by .643 ?

Then multiply .549 by .766 by .766 ?

Then add the 2 answers together ?
----------------------------------
Yes, yes, you have it.
I used a TI-83 calculator that has sin and cos functions

By the way, in the old days like when I went sailboat racing, we had to use logs of trig functions to do these products by adding and subtracting logs because we did not have calculators. This was a total mess and resulted in complicated things like using half the angles so that the logs came out right. Give prayers of thanks for calculators.

Thanks again Damon,

Thats very clever and I do understand it.

Please remind me of the law of sines (spherical version) I presume appropriate in these circumstances.

Additionally I have read some people prefer to use haversines for these calculations. I am similarly confused about this and wonder if you can explain the differences.

Thanks

Mike

The haversines are because of that log problem I mentioned. Forget it. We do not have to multiply and divide by adding and subtracting logs any more. Use a calculator.

same old law of sines
sin A/sin a = sin B/sin b = sin C/sin c