An airplane flies 800 km east and 600 km north. What is the total displacement (with approximate direction)? What is the total distance traveled?
+36916 Total displacement is found using pythagorean theorem
d = sqrt( 800^2 + 600^2) = 1000 km
Direction is given by Tan = opp/adj = 600/800 arctan (600/800) = 36 .9 degrees
For displacement, I was told to subtract the final position - the initial position.
Doing that I got
-200km North
+36916 Not sure who told you that, but it is incorrect.....sorry 
Hypothetical example: IF you move 800 east and then 400 west THEN your displacement would be 800 - 400 = 400 This ONLY works with displacements along a LINE.
