Final answer:
The total distance traveled is the sum of all movements regardless of direction, equaling 79 meters. The displacement is the net movement taking direction into account, resulting in -43 meters.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks us to find the distance and displacement of a person moving in a one-dimensional coordinate system. The person first moves 35 meters to the left, then 18 meters to the right, and finally 26 meters to the left again. To find the total distance, we sum the absolute values of each segment of the walk: |35| + |18| + |26| = 35 + 18 + 26 = 79 meters.
The displacement, however, is a vector quantity and depends on the direction of motion. Since left is considered negative, the displacement is calculated as -35 (left) + 18 (right) - 26 (left) = -35 + 18 - 26 = -43 meters. Therefore, the correct answer is that the distance is 79 meters and the displacement is -43 meters, which matches option a.