A rescue worker follows the route 34 km East, then 16 km North, then 19 km West, then 8 km South. What is the shortest distance from the starting camp?

Last Updated: 07 Sept 2026

A19 km

B17 km

C15 km

D77 km

Correct Answer: 17 kmYour Answer: B

Explanation

Step 1: Mark the starting point as O(0,0) and choose East as +x and North as +y. | Step 2: Horizontal calculation: +34 + −19 = 15 km; hence the final point is east of O by 15 km. | Step 3: Vertical calculation: +16 + −8 = 8 km; hence it is north of O by 8 km. | Step 6: The total route is 77 km, but that is not the required shortest distance; the direct displacement is 17 km.

Important Notes

Use East = +x, West = −x, North = +y and South = −y. |
A route may be long while its displacement is small, so never add every segment unless total distance is requested. |
Estimate the answer before selecting an option: the displacement must be less than or equal to the route length. |

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A rescue worker follows the route 34 km East, then 16 km North, then 19 km West, then 8 km South. What is the shortest distance from the starting camp?

Explanation

Important Notes

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