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?

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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) About Me  (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.