**Distance Travelled by the Particle in the First 2 Seconds**

To determine the distance traveled by the particle in the first 2 seconds, we need to find the change in position of the particle between the initial and final times.

**Given Information:**
- Position of the particle along the x-axis at time t is given by x = 1t - t^2.
- We are interested in finding the distance traveled by the particle in the first 2 seconds.

**Step 1: Find the Initial Position**
To find the initial position of the particle, substitute the initial time (t = 0) into the position equation:
x = 1(0) - (0)^2
x = 0 - 0
x = 0

Therefore, the initial position of the particle is x = 0.

**Step 2: Find the Final Position**
To find the final position of the particle, substitute the final time (t = 2) into the position equation:
x = 1(2) - (2)^2
x = 2 - 4
x = -2

Therefore, the final position of the particle is x = -2.

**Step 3: Find the Change in Position**
The change in position of the particle is calculated by subtracting the initial position from the final position:
Change in position = Final position - Initial position
Change in position = (-2) - (0)
Change in position = -2

Therefore, the change in position of the particle is -2.

**Step 4: Find the Distance Traveled**
The distance traveled by the particle is always a positive value, so we take the absolute value of the change in position:
Distance traveled = |Change in position|
Distance traveled = |-2|
Distance traveled = 2

Therefore, the distance traveled by the particle in the first 2 seconds is 2 units.

**Conclusion**
The particle travels a distance of 2 units in the first 2 seconds. The initial position is 0, and the final position is -2, resulting in a change in position of -2 units. Since distance is always positive, we take the absolute value of the change in position, which gives us a distance traveled of 2 units.