Step-by-step explanation:
Given that,
A person walks 12.0 m east, then turns and goes 5.00 m west, then turns and goes back 2.00 m east.
(a) Distance is equal to total path covered during the entire journey.
Distance = 12 + 5 +2
Distance = 19 m
(b) The shortest path covered is equal to the shortest path traveled. Let east is positive and west is negative. So,
Displacement = 12 +(-5) +2
Displacement = 9 m
