The discussion revolves around calculating the displacement of a car that travels 135 km west and then 30 km southwest. Participants emphasize the need to show work for homework help, highlighting that the problem involves trigonometry rather than just physics. The Pythagorean theorem is suggested as a method to find the displacement, with a focus on constructing a right triangle from the car's movements. To determine the angle, using the arctan function with the triangle's legs is recommended. The conversation underscores the importance of applying mathematical concepts to solve the problem effectively.