A person walks 6 km towards north, then turns towards west and walks 3 km. He then turns left and walks 4 km, and then again turns left and walks for 3 km. Where is he standing now with respect to the starting point?

Appeared in: DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Explanation

The problem requires tracking movement in cardinal directions and turns to find the final position relative to the start.
Starting at (0,0), the movements are: +6 North to (0,6), -3 West to (-3,6), -4 South (left from West) to (-3,2), and +3 East (left from South) to (0,2).
The final coordinate (0,2) indicates a position 2 km North of the origin (0,0), with no displacement East or West.

Option B: This is incorrect. A final position of 4 km north would mean the final y-coordinate is 4. This would happen if the person walked only 2 km south in the third step instead of 4 km.
Option C: This is incorrect. A position of 2 km south implies a final y-coordinate of -2. The net movement in the North-South direction is 6 km North and 4 km South, resulting in a net 2 km North displacement.
Option D: This is incorrect. A position of 4 km south implies a final y-coordinate of -4. The total northward movement (6 km) is greater than the southward movement (4 km).

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 general aptitude skills.
While not a clinical question, the ability to follow sequences and visualize paths is analogous to following multi-step procedures or tracking patient movements within a facility.
What if the person turned right at the third step instead of left? Facing West, a right turn is North. The person would walk 4 km North to (-3, 10), and the final position would be different.

How to Approach the Question

Read the question carefully, noting each movement's direction and distance.
Visualize the path using a simple coordinate system (x, y) or a diagram. Assume North is up (+y), South is down (-y), East is right (+x), and West is left (-x).
Set the starting point as the origin (0, 0).
Update the coordinates after each step. Pay close attention to the direction of turns (left/right) relative to the current direction of travel.
After the final move, calculate the net displacement from the origin (0, 0) to find the final position.
Compare your calculated final position with the given options to find the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-1)

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