Calculating Net Displacement: How to Find the Final Distance Traveled by Jim?

[kraaaaamos]

Please Help!

Jim walks 100m due south, 60m due east, and then 20m due north. What is his net
displacement (both magnitude and direction)?

 

[mathcrzy]

first figure out the value of y and x.

 

[vanesch]

According to his boots, his net displacement is of course 180 meter, but I know that is not what the (bad) problem designer had in mind

 

[pervect]

Jim walks 100m due south, 60m due east, and then 20m due north. What is his net
displacement (both magnitude and direction)?

Is this a homework problem?

Also, does this occur on the Earth, or on a plane?

 

[kraaaaamos]

I have no idea. I assume he mans displacement, instead of distance. :S
Is the magnitude of distance the same as displacement?

 

[Loren Booda]

Hint: 60, 80 and 100 constitute a Pythagorean triple.

 

[kraaaaamos]

Okay, I think I've got it.
It's kinda like figuring out the hypotenuse?

Thanks everyone : )

 

[Mk]

Okay, I think I've got it.
It's kinda like figuring out the hypotenuse?

Thanks everyone : )

Displacement means distance between original spot and final spot, "distance traveled" means the length of his entire pathway.