Final answer:
The total distance traveled is the sum of the absolute distances in each direction, making it 9 meters. Distance is scalar, whereas displacement is vector, considering direction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The total distance traveled by a person who walks 4 meters to the right and then 5 meters to the left is the sum of the individual distances walked, regardless of the direction. Therefore, the total distance is 4 meters + 5 meters, which equals 9 meters.
Distance is a scalar quantity, meaning it only takes into account the magnitude, not the direction of the travel. On the other hand, displacement is a vector quantity that considers both magnitude and direction. Since the person ends up 1 meter to the left of their original starting point, the displacement would be -1 meter in this scenario if we take the right direction as positive.