Ram started to walk for 5 km in South direction and took a left turn and walked 8 km. He then took another left turn and walked 5 km before taking a right turn to walk 7 km. How far is the starting point from the ending point?

Appeared in: RRB Nsg. Superintendent-21 July 2019 (Shift-2nd)

Explanation

The problem requires calculating the net displacement from a starting point after a series of movements.
The key is to separate movements into cardinal directions (North-South and East-West).
The 5 km South movement is cancelled by the 5 km North movement, resulting in zero net vertical displacement.
The horizontal movements are both towards the East (8 km and 7 km), so they are added together.
The total distance from the starting point is the sum of the eastward movements: 8 km + 7 km = 15 km.

Option A: This value is incorrect. It might be the result of an arbitrary miscalculation, perhaps by only considering the last two movements (5 km + 7 km).
Option B: This value is incorrect. It could be the result of incorrectly adding some of the path segments, such as the last three movements (8 km + 5 km + 7 km = 20 km) or another combination like 5+5+7=17.
Option C: This value is incorrect. It might be obtained by incorrectly adding the first and second movements (5 km + 8 km = 13 km) without considering the directions.

Visual 1: Diagram: A 2D map showing a starting point, with arrows indicating each segment of the walk: 5 km South, 8 km East, 5 km North, and 7 km East. The final diagram would clearly show the start and end points are on the same horizontal line, 15 km apart.

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 is a general aptitude and logical reasoning question, not a clinical one.
These types of questions test problem-solving skills, spatial awareness, and the ability to follow a sequence of instructions, which are valuable cognitive skills in any profession.
What if the final turn was a left turn instead of a right? If Ram turned left (West) and walked 7 km from point D (8,0), his final position would be (8-7, 0) = (1, 0). The distance from the start would then be 1 km.

How to Approach the Question

Read the question carefully to identify the starting direction and all subsequent turns and distances.
It's often helpful to draw a simple diagram to visualize the path. Assume North is up, South is down, East is right, and West is left.
Track the position by breaking down each movement into its North-South and East-West components.
Remember that a left turn from South is East, a left turn from East is North, and a right turn from North is East.
Calculate the net displacement in the vertical (North-South) and horizontal (East-West) directions separately.
In this case, the vertical movements cancel out, so the final distance is simply the net horizontal displacement.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full RRB Nsg. Superintendent-21 July 2019 (Shift-2nd)

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