Question

A squirrel runs 23 feet down a hill to eat an acorn. Then it runs 23 feet up the hill. Write the integer that represents the squirrel's final position with respect to the top of the hill.

A. -23
B. 0
C. 23
D. 46

Answer 1

The squirrel's final position with respect to the top of the hill is zero, as the downward and upward runs cancel each other out, making answer B. 0 the correct choice.

Step-by-step explanation:

The squirrel's final position with respect to the top of the hill is represented by an integer that corresponds to its net displacement after both the downward and upward runs. Since the squirrel first runs 23 feet down the hill and then runs the same distance back up, its net displacement is zero. The initial and final positions relative to the top of the hill are the same, because the two movements cancel each other out.

Therefore, the correct answer is B. 0.