Final answer:
To calculate Parry's total distance traveled, add the distances in each direction, which sums to 20.723 miles. After rounding to the proper number of significant figures, the total distance is 20.72 miles, making option C) 20.72 the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the total distance traveled by Parry, we must add up the distances traveled in each direction. Given the distances of 9.5 miles, 8.89 miles, and 2.333 miles, the total distance can be calculated as:
Total Distance = 9.5 miles + 8.89 miles + 2.333 miles
Total Distance = 20.723 miles
When reporting the answer with the proper number of significant figures, we should look at the least precise measurement, which is 8.89 miles (2 decimal places). Thus, we round our answer to two decimal places:
Total Distance = 20.72 miles
Therefore, the correct answer, considering significant figures, is option C) 20.72.