Question

Calculate the final displacement from 0 if an object first moves 3 cm to the left and then 5 cm to the right.

Answer 1

So.. if it moves 3cm to the left and 5 cm to the right, you know that it takes 3cm to get it back to it's initial starting position, but it's been displaced. 
So the final displacement is 2cm to the right.

Answer 2

Answer: 2 cm to the right

Explanation:

The displacement is the shortest distance between initial and final position.

It can be calculated by subtracting the initial position from final position.

Let the sign be positive for direction towards right and negative for direction towards left.

The initial position is 0.

Firstly, object moves towards left = -3 cm

Then, the object moves towards right = 5 cm

Thus, the final position of the object is = -3 cm + 5 cm = +2 cm

Displacement = final position - initial position = + 2 cm - 0 = + 2 cm

Thus, the final displacement is 2 cm to right.