Please help! if a trail runner zig-zags 15m to the west and then 15m to the east:

what is the runner's total distance?
what is the runner's total displacement?​

Total distance = 30m

Total displacement = 0m

Step-by-step explanation:

a) Distance is a scalar quantity that does not specify direction

Hence if a trail runner zig-zags 15m to the west and then 15m to the east, the total distance will be the sum of the distance travelled both to the west and east.

total distance =  distance through west + distance through east

total distance = 15m + 15m

total distance = 30m

Hence the runner's total distance is 30m

b) Displacement is a vector quantity and it specifies direction. Hence we will take into consideration the direction taken

Since East direction is positive, the displacement through east is +15m

Since West direction is negative, the displacement through west is -15m

Total displacement  = +15 - 15

Total displacement = 0m

Hence the runner's total displacement is 0m

x= -3 and

step-by-step explanation:

to find the roots of a cubic, use division or factoring to find the factors then set equal to 0. as this is a difference of cubes, it factors into

where a is the cube root of .

here   this is 27 and the cube root of 27 is 3. so we write using the form:

.

set each factor to 0 and solve for x.

x-3=0

x=3

the quadratic expression does not factor and must be solved using the quadratic formula.

where a = 1, b=3, and c=9

this cubic has two complex roots.