Rimpy walks south 15 m from home, then north 20 m, then east 10 m, then south 5 m. How far is she from home now, and in which direction relative to her starting point?

Introduction / Context:
This problem asks for the resultant displacement after several orthogonal moves. You can track North–South and East–West components separately and combine them to get the final position.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• South 15 m, then North 20 m, then East 10 m, then South 5 m.
• Take North and East as positive directions; South and West as negative.
• We need both distance and direction of the endpoint from start.

Concept / Approach:
Sum vertical components and horizontal components independently. The Pythagorean theorem is only needed if both components are nonzero. If one component sums to zero, the final displacement equals the magnitude of the other component alone.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Draw a quick grid: the northward 20 cancels the two southward moves (15 and 5) perfectly, leaving only an eastward offset of 10 m.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• South-East or North-East would require a nonzero vertical component.
• West contradicts the net East movement.

Common Pitfalls:
Incorrectly adding vertical moves or forgetting that the last southward 5 m completes the cancellation.

Final Answer:
10 meters, East