Negative value of displacement

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the calculation of displacement for a car that skids to a stop, resulting in a negative value of -33.6 meters. This negative displacement arises from the chosen direction of the X-axis in the problem, which is a common convention in physics exercises. The participants emphasize that in practical scenarios, negative values are not typically reported, and precise measurements are often rounded. Additionally, the importance of providing complete problem statements for effective assistance is highlighted.

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Anna55
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A car traveling rightward slams on the breaks and skids to a stop (with locked wheels). Find the distance required to stop it. (I have taken away some parts of the question.)

The answer became -33.6 m. Why is the value negative? Thank you in advance!
 
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Because it is a school exercise rather than real (engineering, forensic, scientific) life, and your teacher (author of the exercise) chose such direction for "X-axis" used to analyse the problem.

In reality no one would give you a negative number as an answer. Probably no one would also give so precise number, rather that "car stops in 100 feet" "30m", or maybe even "33m"
 
You should be posting this in the homework help forums. Also you need to post the correct and complete problem.

It is clear you have made a mistake but there is no way to help you due to insufficient information.

Locked: Please post a a complete question with your work in the homework help forums.
 

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