A man walks 4 km north, then turn to the right and walk 2 km. after that, he walk 4km south. now how much distance is he from the starting point ?

Appeared in: NORCET 9 Prelims-2025

Explanation

The problem asks for the final displacement, which is the straight-line distance from the start to the end point.
The man walks 4 km North and later 4 km South. These two movements are in opposite directions and of equal magnitude, so they cancel each other out in the North-South axis.
The only movement that is not cancelled is the 2 km walk to the East (a right turn from North).
Therefore, the final position is 2 km East of the starting point, making the distance from the start 2 km.

Option B: 4 km is the length of the individual North and South movements, but it does not represent the final distance from the origin after all movements are completed.
Option C: 6 km is an incorrect calculation, possibly obtained by erroneously adding the East (2 km) and South (4 km) movements (2 + 4 = 6). This does not represent the final displacement.
Option D: 8 km is the total distance traveled in the North-South direction (4 km North + 4 km South), but since they are in opposite directions, they cancel out for displacement.

Visual 1: Diagram - A simple diagram plotting the man's movement on a 2D grid (North, South, East, West). This visually demonstrates how the path forms a rectangular shape and the final displacement is the length of one side.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Direction and Distance Reasoning as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This question tests logical reasoning and spatial awareness, which are foundational skills for problem-solving.
While not a clinical question, the ability to follow a sequence of steps and determine an outcome is analogous to following a care protocol or tracking changes in a patient's condition over time.
What if the man had turned left instead of right? A left turn from North is West. He would have walked 2 km West, and his final position would still be 2 km from the start, but in the Westerly direction.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the starting point and treat it as the origin (0,0).
Break down the movement into individual steps and directions (North, South, East, West).
Visualize the path. It's often helpful to draw a simple diagram.
Calculate the net movement along each axis (North-South and East-West).
Recognize that movements in opposite directions (North vs. South, East vs. West) cancel each other out.
The final distance from the start (displacement) is the result of the remaining net movement.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full NORCET 9 Prelims-2025

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.