Final answer:
The total distance traveled by the person is 21m. The displacement should be the square root of the sum of the squares of the net northward movement (6m) and the net eastward movement (5m), which is approximately 7.81m. However, none of the options provided correctly matches this calculation.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the total distance traveled by the person delivering memos, we simply add the lengths of each segment of their journey. The person traveled in several segments: 9m north, 5m east, 2m north, and 5m south. Thus, the total distance is:
The total displacement, however, is a vector quantity, which means we take into account the direction. It's the straight-line distance from the starting point to the final point. Displacement is calculated as:
- The net movement northward = 9m north + 2m north - 5m south = 6m north
- The net movement eastward = 5m east (as there are no other movements in the east-west direction)
Therefore, by using the Pythagorean theorem, the total displacement is:
- √(6² + 5²) = √(36 + 25) = √61 ≈ 7.81m, which we can round to 8m for simplicity.
However, as none of the answer choices matches 7.81m or 8m, let's match the given options:
- Option b: Total distance: 21m, Displacement: 9m
Option b is incorrect because the displacement calculation should be √(6² + 5²) = √61 and not 9m. The correct answer is not listed in the options provided, but the correct method of calculation shows a displacement closer to 8m.