onsider the diagram showing the path that Joel biked. Joel bikes 9 blocks East and 12 blocks North. If he biked back to his starting point using the most direct route, how many blocks would he ride all together? NOTE: To receive credit for the question, type the correct number value answer in the blank provide

To find the total number of blocks Joel would ride, we first need to consider the distance he biked both going and coming back.

1. **Distance Biked Initially:**
- Joel biked 9 blocks East and 12 blocks North. Therefore, the distance he biked initially is:
\[
9 + 12 = 21 \text{ blocks}
\]

2. **Distance Biked Back:**
- To return to his starting point, Joel would need to bike back the same 9 blocks West and 12 blocks South, which is another:
\[
9 + 12 = 21 \text{ blocks}
\]

3. **Total Distance:**
- The total distance for the entire trip (going and returning):
\[
21 + 21 = 42 \text{ blocks}
\]

Thus, if Joel biked back to his starting point using the most direct route, the total number of blocks he would ride altogether is:

\[
\boxed{42}
\]