A person walks 4 km North, turns left and walks 6 km, then turns left again and walks 4 km. How far and in which direction is he from the starting point?

Appeared in: DSSSB 6 September 2024

Explanation

This question tests logical reasoning, specifically the ability to track displacement by considering both distance and direction.
The first move is 4 km North.
The second move is a left turn (to West) for 6 km.
The third move is another left turn (to South) for 4 km.
The 4 km North and 4 km South movements are in opposite directions and cancel each other out in the North-South axis.
The only remaining displacement is the 6 km movement to the West. Therefore, the final position is 6 km West of the start.

Option B: The direction is incorrect. The final position is West of the starting point, not North. The Northward movement was cancelled by the Southward movement.
Option C: The distance is incorrect. 4 km is the length of the North and South legs of the journey, not the final displacement from the starting point.
Option D: The distance is incorrect. 10 km is the sum of the first two legs of the journey (4 km + 6 km), but this does not represent the final displacement, which is a straight-line distance from start to finish.

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 is from the non-nursing section of the exam, focusing on general intelligence and reasoning.
Logical reasoning skills are crucial for nurses in clinical problem-solving, prioritizing tasks, and making sound judgments under pressure.
What if the second turn was a right turn instead of a left? If the person turned right from West, they would face North and walk 4 km. The final position would be 6 km West and 8 km North of the start. The distance would be the hypotenuse: sqrt(6^2 + 8^2) = sqrt(36+64) = sqrt(100) = 10 km, in the North-West direction.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the question type: This is a direction and distance reasoning problem.
Visualize or sketch the path. Start with a point and draw lines representing each movement.
Keep track of the direction. Remember that a left turn from North is West, and a left turn from West is South.
Calculate the net movement in the North-South and East-West directions.
In this case, the North-South movement is +4 km (North) and -4 km (South), which nets to 0 km.
The East-West movement is -6 km (West).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full DSSSB 6 September 2024

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