Solve the following questions and choose the correct alternative from the…
2025
Solve the following questions and choose the correct alternative from the following.
Aman runs towards North for 10 m, turns left and runs another 20 m.
He turns right and walks slowly for 10 m. Then he again turns right, walks another 50 m and stops. In which direction is he with respect to his initial position?
- A.
South-East
- B.
North-East
- C.
North-West
- D.
South-West
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Concept: In direction-and-distance reasoning questions, plot each leg on a compass grid with North as up. A "turn left" or "turn right" changes the walker's facing by 90 degrees relative to their CURRENT facing, not a fixed compass direction — so the facing after each turn must be tracked in sequence. Add all northward/southward legs to get the net vertical displacement, and all eastward/westward legs to get the net horizontal displacement; the signs of these two net components (north/south and east/west) together fix the final direction relative to the start.
Applying this to the given path:
Start facing North. Walk 10 m North. Facing is now North.
Turn left (from facing North, a left turn reorients to facing West). Walk 20 m West. Facing is now West.
Turn right (from facing West, a right turn reorients to facing North). Walk 10 m North. Facing is now North.
Turn right again (from facing North, a right turn reorients to facing East). Walk 50 m East and stop.
Net vertical displacement: 10 m + 10 m = 20 m North (there is no southward leg anywhere in the path). Net horizontal displacement: 50 m East minus 20 m West = 30 m East.
Since the net vertical component is North and the net horizontal component is East, the final position lies to the North-East of the starting point.
Cross-check with coordinates (start at the origin, North = +y, East = +x): (0, 0) -> (0, 10) after the first leg -> (-20, 10) after the second leg -> (-20, 20) after the third leg -> (30, 20) after the fourth leg. The final point (30, 20) has both coordinates positive, confirming the North-East direction.
