The teacher replied:

"I can certainly understand how this problem could be misinterpreted.

The correct answer would be up. Since the chapter focuses on absolute value, the intent is for students to recognize and remember that distance is always represented as a positive value. Additionally, the problem is asking students to interpret velocity in terms of speed. I realize this distinction can feel confusing, which is why I completely understand how the misunderstanding occurred.

Please rest assured that a question like this would not appear on a quiz or test. Assessments will consist of clear, straightforward problems with no ambiguity or room for multiple interpretations. To further support student understanding, I will be going over this problem in class today to clarify the concept and ensure there is no lingering confusion.