Final answer:
The total displacement is approximately 24.20 km, making the correct answer A) 33 km northwest.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the total displacement, we can use the Pythagorean theorem. The distance traveled due north is 21 km, and the distance traveled due west is 12 km.
Thus, the total displacement can be calculated as the square root of the sum of the squares of the north and west distances: √(212 + 122) = √(441 + 144) = √585 ≈ 24.20 km.
Therefore, the total displacement is approximately 24.20 km. Since it is north of the starting point and slightly west, the correct answer is A) 33 km northwest.