What is the total displacement, to the nearest tenth, of a car that travels 35 km north, then 20 km east?

To find the total displacement of the car, we can use the Pythagorean theorem because the movement north and east forms a right-angled triangle. The displacement is the hypotenuse of this triangle.

Given:
- Northward distance = 35 km
- Eastward distance = 20 km

The displacement \( d \) is calculated using the Pythagorean theorem:

\[
d = \sqrt{(35)^2 + (20)^2}
\]

Now, calculating:

\[
d = \sqrt{1225 + 400} = \sqrt{1625} \approx 40.3 \text{ km}
\]

Thus, the total displacement is approximately **40.3 km**.

Would you like more details or have any questions?

Here are 5 related questions you might explore:
1. How would you calculate displacement if the car traveled west instead of east?
2. What would be the displacement if the car had traveled 45 km north and 30 km east?
3. Can displacement ever be greater than the total distance traveled?
4. How do angles affect the calculation of displacement?
5. How is displacement different from total distance?

**Tip:** Displacement measures the straight-line distance from the starting point to the ending point, regardless of the path taken.

Learn how to calculate the total displacement of a car that travels 35 km north and 20 km east using the Pythagorean theorem. This step-by-step guide walks through applying the formula to solve for the straight-line distance between two points. Suitable for students in Grades 8-10.

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