Determine the total distance you've walked

[Thiendrah]

Homework Statement

A city's streets are laid out with its north-south blocks twice as long as its east-west blocks. You walk 6 blocks east and 4 blocks north.

Part A
Determine the total distance you've walked. Express answers in units of east-west blocks.

Part B
Determine the magnitude of your displacement vector.

Homework Equations

I use trig, so no equations (at least not that i know of).

The Attempt at a Solution

You get a 3,4,5 triangle. Tried to get the components. Couldnt do more.

 

[Hootenanny]

You get a 3,4,5 triangle. Tried to get the components. Couldnt do more.

Indeed it does, so what do you think the 5 represents?

 

[Thiendrah]

that's the displacement vector for part b.

 

[Hootenanny]

that's the displacement vector for part b.

Correct.

So, back to part A; if you walk 6 blocks east and 4 blocks north (bearing in mind 1 north block = 2 east blocks), how many blocks have you walked in total?

 

[Thiendrah]

1n=2e
4n=8e

8e+6e=14e

 

[Hootenanny]

1n=2e
4n=8e

8e+6e=14e

Correct!

Now all you need to do is work out the direction for part B.