SOLUTION: Mr Wong left his house and drove north for 5 blocks, then turned right and drove 6 blocks, then turned south and drove 2 more blocks. Finally, he turned right again and drove one m

Algebra ->  Pythagorean-theorem -> SOLUTION: Mr Wong left his house and drove north for 5 blocks, then turned right and drove 6 blocks, then turned south and drove 2 more blocks. Finally, he turned right again and drove one m      Log On


   

Question 511913: Mr Wong left his house and drove north for 5 blocks, then turned right and drove 6 blocks, then turned south and drove 2 more blocks. Finally, he turned right again and drove one more block to end up at the library.
How many blocks east of Mr Wong's house is the library ??
Please help me get to the answer at the most basic elementary level. It's for a 4th grader my son.
Answer by oberobic(2304) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
To drive 4 blocks north means he is now 4 blocks north of home.
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When he turns right, he is turning to the east.
By going 6 blocks he is now 6 blocks east of his home and he's still 4 blocks north.
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When he turns to the south, he is turning to the right.
By going 2 blocks, you subtract 2 blocks from the north position.
So, he is now 6 blocks east and 2 blocks north of home.
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When he turns right again, he is now going west.
By driving 1 block, you subtract 1 block from the east position.
So, he is now 5 blocks east and 2 blocks north of home.
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The easiest way is to use graph paper or draw a grid on regular paper and put points at each place he turns. Then you can use it like a map.