Displacement is a vector representing the distance traveled and specifying the direction.

If you start at position x_o and move to position x, your displacement Dx is defined as:

Example

If you move 5 meters north, Dx = 5 m north.

Now go the other direction, with a displacement of 3 m south.

The total distance traveled is 8 m. What is your net displacement?













Dx₁ = +5 m north
Dx₂ = +3 m south = - 3 m north

Net displacement: Dx = Dx₁ + Dx₂ = +5 -3 = +2 m north