Q68
ReasoningDirection Sense
A person walks 500 m North-East, then 1 km South, turns right to walk another 1 km. Then he walks 500 m South-West and in the end, walks 1 km towards North. Where will he be at the end with respect to the starting position?
- a.1 km South-West
- b.500 m North
- c.500 m East
- d.1 km West
Answer: (D) 1 km West
Opposite moves cancel out: 500 m North-East and 500 m South-West cancel each other, and 1 km South and 1 km North cancel each other. The only move left is the 1 km walked after 'turning right' while facing South, and a right turn from South faces West. So he ends 1 km West of the start (D). With coordinates: (354, 354), then (354, -646), then (-646, -646), then (-1000, -1000), and finally (-1000, 0). Tip: in direction-sense problems, pair off equal and opposite legs before doing any calculation, and remember that turning right means clockwise (N to E to S to W).