alleryStart learning →A biker rides west for 50 miles from his starting position, then turns and bikes back east 80 miles. What is his net displacement?
A30 miles west
B30 miles east
C130 miles east
D130 miles west
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. 30 miles east
1. Take west as positive: the legs are +50 miles and -80 miles.
2. Displacement = 50 - 80 = -30 miles.
3. A negative value on a west-positive axis points east, so the displacement is 30 miles east.
_Source: OpenStax Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 2 "Motion in One Dimension", section 2.1 Relative Motion, Distance, and Displacement_
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