To calculate the total number of blocks Joel biked, we first find out how many blocks he traveled in each direction:
- Joel bikes 9 blocks East.
- Joel bikes 12 blocks North.
To return to his starting point using the most direct route, he would need to bike the same amount in the opposite directions:
- He has to bike 9 blocks West to go back the East distance.
- He has to bike 12 blocks South to go back the North distance.
Now we can calculate the total distance he biked:
-
Outbound trip (to the final destination):
- East: 9 blocks
- North: 12 blocks
- Total outbound: 9 + 12 = 21 blocks
-
Return trip (back to the starting point):
- West: 9 blocks
- South: 12 blocks
- Total return: 9 + 12 = 21 blocks
Now, add the outbound and return trips together to get the total distance:
Total distance = Outbound + Return = 21 + 21 = 42 blocks.
Therefore, the total number of blocks Joel would ride all together is 42.