Question

excited to visit his friend, hanson walked 0.2 kilometers to the train station. he rode the train 4.5 kilometers in the opposite direction into town. he then walked 0.6 kilometers in the same direction to meet his friend for lunch. after lunch, his friend drove him 4.9 kilometers in the original direction back home. assume the direction hanson started walking is the positive direction. what was hansons displacement? kilometers

Explanation:

Step1: Define displacements

Let the positive - direction be the direction Hanson started walking. The first displacement $d_1 = 0.2$ km (walking to the train station), the second displacement $d_2=-4.5$ km (train ride in the opposite direction), the third displacement $d_3 = 0.6$ km (walking to meet friend), and the fourth displacement $d_4 = 4.9$ km (ride back home in the original direction).

Step2: Calculate total displacement

The total displacement $D$ is the sum of all displacements, $D=d_1 + d_2 + d_3 + d_4$.
Substitute the values: $D = 0.2+( - 4.5)+0.6 + 4.9$.
First, $0.2+( - 4.5)=0.2 - 4.5=-4.3$.
Then, $-4.3+0.6=-3.7$.
Finally, $-3.7 + 4.9 = 1.2$.

Answer:

$1.2$