SOLUTION: how do you doIn Paris, a boy walks 4 km north, 5 km south, 2 km north, and 3 km south. How far is the boy from his starting point?

Question 149458: how do you doIn Paris, a boy walks 4 km north, 5 km south, 2 km north, and 3 km south. How
far is the boy from his starting point?
Answer by nerdybill(7384) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The "boy" is moving in only two directions -- north and south.
.
It might be more understandable if you replace "up" for "north" and "down" for "south":
In Paris, a boy walks 4 km up, 5 km down, 2 km up, and 3 km down. How
far is the boy from his starting point?
.
Then if you think of "up" as + and "down" as - we get:
4 - 5 + 2 - 3
= -1 + 2 - 3
= 1 - 3
= -2
.
Remember, the "negative" translate to south
The boy is 2 km south from his starting point.

RELATED QUESTIONS
Marie is lost. She walks 15km north, 4 km east, 9 km south, 11 km east, 23 km north, 7 km (answered by FrankM,MathTherapy)

A boy walks 7 km west,then 4 km north,and finally 4 km east.How far is he from his... (answered by Theo)

A person travels 2 km due North, then 15 km due East, after that 19 km due West and then... (answered by addingup)

A person travels 2 km due North, then 15 km due East, after that 19 km due West and then... (answered by math_helper)

A person travels 2 km due North, then 15 km due East, after that 19 km due West and then... (answered by Alan3354)

Jonny walks 5 km south and then 4 mm east. How far is he from his starting... (answered by Alan3354)

A ship sails 14 km due east, 5 km due north, 10 km due west and 8 km due south. how far... (answered by richwmiller)

A person travels 12 km due North, then 15 km due East, after that 15 km due West and then (answered by Cromlix)

a ship travels 6 km due South, 5 km due East and then 4 km due South. How far is it from... (answered by Alan3354)