How do i write a program that could help me find a missing plane? MATLAB

I've never taken any programming class so this is my first time experiencing anything of this nature, My first class project is asking us to locate a missing plane within a 2000 mile radius from the spot last detected.

The program must search at least 20 possible landing locations, randomly narrowed to the final 5 choices of locations. so it should give me at least 5 locations. and it must be longitude and latitude.

I'm not entirely sure on how to even start.. :\ I don't want to be a burden to me team and not be able to at least comprehend how to begin this

I've barely learned a few things like "else" or "if" commands, but i don't know how to even make it choose 5 locations out of 20.. or how to incorporate it within 2000 miles.

if anyone can show me how to start a program like this, i'd appreciate it.

I have a list of coordinates such as latitude: 9.7161337 and longitude: 98.154988 from a fixed point whose coordinates are Latitude: 5.637853 and longitude: 98.80. Of course i have 20 other coordinates but given this information how would i write a program so that if i used all 20 coordinates, the program would choose the 5 out of those.

[Star Strider]

I don’t know how much you’re told about the airplane and relevant variables, but (as an Instrument-Rated Private Pilot myself) the things I would need to know are the airplane’s last known heading, altitude, fuel remaining, weight, velocity (airspeed), weather, density altitude, wind (at various altitudes), and assuming fuel exhaustion at some point, glide ratio (maximum glide velocity and minimum descent rate). You will need to calculate the airplane’s groundspeed. Those should give you some idea of your maximum search radius. Most (if not all) airplanes are equipped with (at least) an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) that can be triggered manually or will begin transmitting on its own if its accelerometers trigger.

[Chris]

well it's not as elaborate as that... I mean this is an intro class. So as basic as it can possibly be.

the maximum is 2000 miles because that's what he set, and variables are not necessary. I think he literally just wants us to write a simple program that chooses 5 locations out of 20.

[Star Strider]

That’s easy, then. Pick five random locations.