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 if a toy car starts at 0, moves 5 cm to the left, then 8 cm to the right, and then 3 cm to the left.

The car moves
cm, so there is no displacement.

Answer 1

Start at 0. After 5 cm left → position −5. Then 8 cm right → position +3. Then 3 cm left → position 0.

Net displacement = final − initial = 0 − 0 = 0 cm.

(The car traveled a total distance of 5 + 8 + 3 = 16 cm, but its displacement is 0 cm.)