Question

Consider 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?

Answer 1

To find the total distance Joel biked, we first need to determine the distance he traveled initially and then the distance he biked back to his starting point.

1. **Distance Biked East and North:**
- Joel biked 9 blocks East and 12 blocks North.
- Therefore, the total distance for this part of his trip is:
\[
9 \text{ blocks (East)} + 12 \text{ blocks (North)} = 21 \text{ blocks}
\]

2. **Distance Biking Back to the Starting Point:**
- To return to the starting point, Joel needs to bike the same distance he traveled but in the opposite direction.
- Since he originally biked 9 blocks East, he must bike 9 blocks West to return in that direction.
- Similarly, since he biked 12 blocks North, he must bike 12 blocks South to return in that direction.
- The distance he travels back is also:
\[
9 \text{ blocks (West)} + 12 \text{ blocks (South)} = 21 \text{ blocks}
\]

3. **Total Distance Traveled:**
- Now, we add the total distance traveled in both directions:
\[
21 \text{ blocks (outgoing)} + 21 \text{ blocks (returning)} = 42 \text{ blocks}
\]

Thus, the total distance Joel rode altogether is \(\boxed{42}\) blocks.