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

If you start at x_o and move to x, your displacement Δx is:

Example:

Move 5 meters north, Δx = 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?













Δx₁ = +5 m north
Δx₂ = +3 m south = - 3 m north

Net displacement: Δx = Δx₁ + Δx₂ = +5 -3 = +2 m north