Agirl delivering newspapers covers her route by traveling 3.50 blocks west, 3.50 blocks north, and then 9.50 blocks east.
(a) what is her resultant displacement?
magnitude
blocks
direction
° north of east
(b) what is the total distance she travels?
blocks

(a) 6.95 blocks at north of east

Let's calculate the net displacement along the west-east direction first. Taking east as positive direction and west as negative direction,

blocks east

While displacement in north-south direction is

blocks north

So the magnitude of the resultant displacement is

blocks

And the direction is

north of east

(b) 16.50 blocks

The total distance travelled is simply the sum of the length of each path. We have:

3.50 blocks in the first part

3.50 blocks in the second part

9.50 blocks in the last part

So, the total distance travelled is

d = 3.50 + 3.50 + 9.50 = 16.50 blocks

hi there!

out of the two, (b) precision would be more reasonable.   however, both a and b could be pretty reasonable.

-awesomerepublic   : )