Question

A blue line with 5 orange tick marks then one red tick mark then 4 orange tick marks. The number zero is above the red tick mark.
Assume each tick mark represents 1 cm.

Calculate the total displacement from 0 if an object moves 3 cm to the left, then 7 cm to the right, and then 6 cm to the left.

The object moves
cm to the left.

What is the total distance the object travels?
cm

Answer 1

Start at 0.
- After 3 cm left: at -3.
- After 7 cm right: -3 + 7 = +4.
- After 6 cm left: 4 - 6 = -2.

So the object is 2 cm to the left of 0.
Total distance traveled = 3 + 7 + 6 = 16 cm.