How do you calculate the magnitude of displacement?

For calculation of displacement, only the end points matter. He ends up 2.5 m above and 1.1 m to the side of his original postion. The displacement magnitude is |s| = √[2.5² + 1.1²] = 2.73 m. This is not the same as the total distance traveled, which is the sum of displacement magnitudes of each leg.