A delivery truck travels 18 blocks north, 25 blocks west and 17 blocks south. What is its final displacement from the origin? Assume the blocks are equal length.
sqrt[(18-17)^2 + 25^2] = sqrt 626
=___ blocks
around 12.96
use the Pythagoras theorem.
To find the final displacement of the delivery truck from the origin, we need to calculate the net distance it has traveled in the north-south and east-west directions.
First, let's calculate the north-south displacement. The truck traveled 18 blocks north and then 17 blocks south. The net distance traveled in the north-south direction would be 18 - 17 = 1 block to the north.
Next, let's calculate the east-west displacement. The truck traveled 25 blocks west, which means it moved 25 blocks to the left.
Now, we have the north-south displacement of 1 block north and the east-west displacement of 25 blocks west. To find the final displacement, we need to use Pythagoras' theorem in a right triangle, where the north-south displacement is the vertical side and the east-west displacement is the horizontal side.
Using Pythagoras' theorem:
Final displacement = √(north-south displacement)^2 + (east-west displacement)^2
Final displacement = √(1^2 + 25^2)
Final displacement = √(1 + 625)
Final displacement = √(626)
Final displacement ≈ 25.02
Therefore, the final displacement of the delivery truck from the origin is approximately 25.02 blocks in a direction 1 block north and 25 blocks west.