A football player runs due South for 80 yards then cuts up the field due East for a distance of 45 yards before running into the end zone. What is the total displacement of the player?

Explanation:

Let the direction of the south be -y

Let the direction of the east be +x

The displacement is gotten by using the pythagoras theorem as shown;

Let d be the displacement;

d² = x² + y²

Given

x = 45 yards

y = -80 yards

Substitute the given values into the expression;

d² = x² + y²

d² = 45² + (-80)²

d² = 2025 + 6400

d² = 8425

d = √8425

d = 91.79 yards

Hence the total displacement of the player is 91.79 yards