Question

A boat moves 60 kilometers east from point A to point B. There, it reverses direction and travels another 45 kilometers toward point A. What are the total distance and total displacement of the boat?

Answer 1

Total distance = 60 + 45 = 105 km , Total displacement = 60 - 45 = 25 km.

Explanation:

Given : A boat moves 60 kilometers east from point A to point B. There, it reverses direction and travels another 45 kilometers toward point A.

To find : What are the total distance and total displacement of the boat?

Solution : Let boat's initial point is A.

It moves form A to B = 60 km.

it reverse its direction and move toward A = 45 km at any point .

So, Total Distance = Total path covered by boat.

Total distance = 60 + 45 = 105 km.

Total displacement = initial point - final point.

So, Total displacement = 60 - 45 = 15 km.

Therefore ,Total distance = 60 + 45 = 105 km , Total displacement = 60 - 45 = 15 km.

Answer 2

1) the total distance is the sum of the two distances

60 km + 45 km = 105 km

2) The displacement is the net movement, or the difference between the initial position and the final position

Call x the initial position, then the final position is x + [60km - 45km]

And the displacement is x + (60km - 45km) - x =60km -45 km = 15 km