Question

A girl delivering newspapers travels 1 blocks west, 3 blocks north, then 4 blocks east. what is the magnitude of her resultant displacement? answer in units of blocks.

Answer 1

Well, determine the x and y components of the displacement.
Vx = (-1) + 4 = 3
Vy = 3 = 3

Then use a^2 + b^2 = c^2.
a^2 + b^2 = c^2
c = sqrt(a^2 + b^2)
c= sqrt((3)^2 + (3)^2)
c = sqrt(9 + 9)
c = sqrt(18)
c =~ 4.2 blocks Determine the angle using arctangent.

arctan(3/3) = Theta
Theta = 45 degrees north of east

(by 'Theta', I mean the angle you are wishing to find)

_Part 3_

Since distance is a scalar, simply add up all the distances.

1 + 3 + 4 = 8 blocks