A policeman goes 20 meters towards South and then turns to his right and walks…
2023
A policeman goes 20 meters towards South and then turns to his right and walks 40 meters. He again turns to his left and walks 10 meters. How far is he now from his starting point ?
- A.
37.5 meters
- B.
50 meters
- C.
30√2 meters
- D.
40 meters
Attempted by 2 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
The policeman starts at the origin and moves 20 meters South, reaching coordinates (0, -20). Turning right from South leads West for 40 meters, placing him at (-40, -20).
A subsequent left turn from West leads South for another 10 meters, ending at (-40, -30). The distance from the origin is calculated using the Pythagorean theorem as sqrt((-40)^2 + (-30)^2) = 50 meters.