Given parameters:
Distance takes into consideration the path covered by a body in motion.
Here we need to carefully analyse the problem sentence by sentence to arrive at the solution, the total height of jump.
- With the surface of the water being zero,
This is the reference plane and it is the water surface. Area below the reference have a negative sign to show that they are below the surface. Those above are positive.
- it started under water at -35 feet
On jumping to the surface, Ralph covered 35ft
- jumped up and out of the water to 27 feet and returned to the water
jumping out it gained 27ft, total height is 35ft + 27ft = 62ft
Now, returning to the water, it covred another 27ft;
Distance covered now is 62ft + 27ft = 89ft
- returned to the water to swim at -18 feet
Distance of dive = 18ft,
Total distance now is (89 + 18)ft = 107ft
The total vertical distance the Ralph traveled is 107ft.
