Starry has to fly 6 miles east to visit a friend, 8 miles south to go to the space ship station, and then finally 3 miles west, 3 miles north, and 3 miles west again to reach her school. if starry goes straight home from school, how many directions would she need to fly in each direction? explain carefully, i am extremely confused, note that she will fly straight home!

West is opposite east so write any west direction as negative east
south is opposite north so write any south direction as negative north

6 miles east+8 miles negative north+3 miles negative east+3 miels north+3 miles negative east
so we group east with negative east and north with negative north

6 miles east+ -3 mieles east+ -3 miles east+    -8 miles north+3 miles north
add
0 miles east +                                                  -5 miles north
                                                                         -5 miels north=5 miles south

therefor she so far is right now0 units east and 5 miles south of her home
therefor she needs to go 5 miles negative south or 5 miles north

answer is 5 miles north
1 direction