Question

Rita goes 20 km towards east from a point A to the point B. From B, she moves 30 km towards west along the same road. If the distance towards east is represented by a positive integer then, how will you represent the distance travelled towards west? By which integer will you represent her final position from A?

Answer 1

Since the distance towards east is represented by a positive integer, the distance travelled towards west will be represented by a negative integer.

Distance travelled in east direction = 20 km

Distance travelled in west direction = −30 km

Distance travelled from A = 20 + (−30) = −10 km

Therefore, we will represent the distance travelled by Rita from point A by a negative integer, i.e., −10 km (i.e., Rita is now in west direction).