with x-y axes centered at the school, x-axis running east & west and y-axis running north & south, a right triangle is formed having legs "east-west distance" (x) and "north-south distance" (y) and "distance from school (400)" (hypotenuse). the road from school makes a 50 degree angle with the west direction of the x-axis, so x/400=cos(50) or x=400*cos(50) or x=257.1 (approx).
