SOLUTION: A cyclist competes in a road race over 200 kilometers. The path of the course starts off running due north for 50 kilometers, then takes a sharp turn and runs due west for 50 kilom

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Question 972947: A cyclist competes in a road race over 200 kilometers. The path of the course starts off running due north for 50 kilometers, then takes a sharp turn and runs due west for 50 kilometers, and the final turn takes the path due south for 100 kilometers where the course ends. The entire course is uphill from the lowest point at the start to the highest point at the finish. State whether the measured distance or the calculated displacement of this course will be greater and explain why.
Answer by josgarithmetic(39621) About Me  (Show Source):
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The course is longer than just the geographic directions because each section being uphill acts as a hypotenuse of a right triangle. Horizontal leg is each section according to geographic direction, and actual road taken is hypotenuse, therefore longer than horizontal leg.