Question

Ashley decides to go for a walk. She walks 5 blocks west, 2 blocks south, 5 blocks east and finally 2 blocks north. What is her total displacement?

Answer 1

She's back at her starting position

Answer 2

Answer: The total displacment is zero.

Step-by-step explanation: the total displacement is the difference in positions. You can verify that Ashley ends in the same place where she started.

This sketch will help you to see that:

5 blocks
→→→→→
↑ ↓
↑ ↓ 2 blocks
←←←←←
5 blocks

Then, the position of Ashley at the end of her walk is the same that when she started leading to a nil displacement.