Question

Starry has to fly 6 miles east to visit a friend, 8 miles south to go to the space ship station, and then finally 3 miles west, 3 miles north, and 3 miles west again to reach her school. If starry goes STRAIGHT home from school, how many directions would she need to fly in each direction? Please explain carefully, I am extremely confused, please note that she will fly straight home!

Answer 1

west is opposite east so write any west direction as negative east
south is opposite north so write any south direction as negative north

6 miles east+8 miles negative north+3 miles negative east+3 miels north+3 miles negative east
so we group east with negative east and north with negative north

6 miles east+ -3 mieles east+ -3 miles east+ -8 miles north+3 miles north
add
0 miles east + -5 miles north
-5 miels north=5 miles south

therefor she so far is right now0 units east and 5 miles south of her home
therefor she needs to go 5 miles negative south or 5 miles north

answer is 5 miles north
1 direction