Sunil walked 30m towards East, took a right turn and walked 40 m. Then, he took a left turn and walked 30m. In which direction is the now from the starting point?

Appeared in: AIIMS Raipur NO - 2019 (Shift-1)

Explanation

The problem requires tracking movement on a 2D plane and determining the final relative direction.
The first move is 30m East.
A right turn from East leads South, so the second move is 40m South.
A left turn from South leads East, so the third move is 30m East.
The total displacement is 60m East and 40m South.
A position that is both South and East of a starting point is in the South-East direction.

Option A: This option is incorrect because the final direction can be definitively calculated from the given movements. The final position is clearly South-East of the start.
Option B: This is incorrect because it ignores the 40m southward movement. While the final movement is towards the East, the overall position relative to the start has a significant southern component.
Option D: This is incorrect as Sunil never moves North. His only vertical movement is 40m to the South. To be in the North-East direction, he would need to be 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 Directional Sense and Relative Positioning as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This is a general reasoning question, not a clinical one. It tests logical thinking and spatial awareness, which are valuable skills for any professional.
In a clinical setting, spatial awareness is crucial for tasks like navigating a hospital, locating equipment quickly, or describing the location of a patient's symptom (e.g., 'pain in the upper right quadrant').
What if the second turn was also a right turn? If Sunil turned right from South, he would move West. His path would be 30m East, 40m South, then 30m West. The 30m East and 30m West movements would cancel out, leaving him 40m directly South of his starting point.

How to Approach the Question

Read the question carefully to identify the starting direction and the sequence of turns and distances.
Draw a simple diagram to visualize the path. Use cardinal directions (North, South, East, West).
Break down the movement into components (e.g., total distance moved East/West and total distance moved North/South).
The first move is 30m East.
The second move is a right turn (from East, this is South) for 40m.
The third move is a left turn (from South, this is East) for 30m.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full AIIMS Raipur NO - 2019 (Shift-1)

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