A rescue worker follows the route 38 km West, then 25 km North, then 23 km East, then 17 km South. What is the shortest distance from the starting camp?

Last Updated: 07 Sept 2026

A19 km

B15 km

C103 km

D17 km

Correct Answer: 17 kmYour Answer: D

Explanation

Step 1: Mark the starting point as O(0,0) and choose East as +x and North as +y. | Step 2: Horizontal calculation: −38 + +23 = -15 km; hence the final point is west of O by 15 km. | Step 3: Vertical calculation: +25 + −17 = 8 km; hence it is north of O by 8 km. | Step 6: The total route is 103 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 38 km West, then 25 km North, then 23 km East, then 17 km South. What is the shortest distance from the starting camp?

Explanation

Important Notes

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