Answer to Question #244653 in Classical Mechanics for francine

Question

A boy walked 22 m East, then 43 m West, and then 3 m East. What is total distance travelled and displacement?

Answer 1

The total distance is the entire distance he covered

$$d=22+43+3=68\text{ m}.$$

The displacement is the difference between the initial and final position:

$$D=22-43+3=-18\text{ m (or 18 m West)}.$$