Final answer:
The distance the person walks is the sum of the absolute values of each segment of the walk, which equals 79 meters. The displacement is the sum of each movement considering their direction, equal to -43 meters.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the distance the lion runs, we must assess the given scenarios and apply the concepts of distance and displacement within the context of these scenarios. In the case of a coordinate system where movements to the right are positive and those to the left are negative, the total distance is the absolute value of the entire path covered, irrespective of direction, while the displacement is the net change in position from the start to the end point, taking into account the direction.
For the person who walks 35 meters to the left, 18 meters to the right, and then 26 meters to the left, the total distance walked would be the sum of the absolute values of each segment: |-35 m| + |18 m| + |-26 m|, which equals 35 m + 18 m + 26 m = 79 meters. The displacement would be the sum of each movement considering their direction: -35 m + 18 m - 26 m, which equals -43 meters (to the left is considered negative). Therefore, the answer is (a) Distance is 79 m and displacement is -43 m.