Ajay walks 80km towards East. He turns left and 60km. In which direction should he walk to reach starting point?

Appeared in: CIP Ranchi 2023

Explanation

Ajay's first movement is 80 km to the East.
From there, he turns left (which is North when facing East) and walks 60 km.
His final position is 80 km East and 60 km North relative to his starting point.
To return to the start, he must travel in the opposite direction for both components: South (to counter the Northward travel) and West (to counter the Eastward travel).
The combined direction of moving South and West is South-West.

Option B: North-East is the direction from the starting point to the final point, not the direction for the return journey.
Option C: Walking only South would correct his Northward displacement but would leave him 80 km East of his starting point.
Option D: Walking only West would correct his Eastward displacement but would leave him 60 km North of his starting point.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Direction Sense and Spatial Reasoning as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This question tests logical reasoning and spatial awareness, which are fundamental cognitive skills.
These skills are crucial for problem-solving in any professional field, including nursing, where tasks like navigating a hospital or understanding anatomical directions are common.
What if? - If Ajay had turned right instead of left, he would have walked 60 km South. His final position would be (80, -60), and the return direction would be North-West.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the sequence of movements, noting both the distance and the direction for each step.
It is helpful to draw a simple diagram with the four cardinal directions (North, East, South, West) as a reference.
Plot each movement on the diagram, starting from a central point. Keep track of the final position relative to the start.
To find the return direction, determine the path that leads from the final point back to the starting point. This will be the opposite of the net displacement.
Compare your derived direction with the given options to find the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full CIP Ranchi 2023

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