Two men, Pritam and Akash, start walking from the same point. Pritam walks 8 km towards North, then turns towards West and walks 6 km, then turns to his right and walks 4 km. Akash walks 4 km towards West, then turns towards North and walks 12 km, then turns to his right and walks 9 km. How far and in which direction is Akash from Pritam's current point?

1. A

   11 km East

2. B

   11 km West

3. C

   15 km East

4. D

   15 km West

Appeared in: DSSSB - 28 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Explanation

• The problem is solved by tracking the coordinates of both individuals from a common starting point (0,0).
• Pritam's final position is calculated as (-6, 12) after moving 8 km North, 6 km West, and then 4 km North (right turn from West).
• Akash's final position is calculated as (5, 12) after moving 4 km West, 12 km North, and then 9 km East (right turn from North).
• The distance between them is the difference in their x-coordinates, as their y-coordinates are the same: 5 - (-6) = 11 km.
• Since Akash's x-coordinate (5) is positive and Pritam's (-6) is negative, Akash is to the East of Pritam.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option B: This is incorrect. The calculation shows Akash is to the East of Pritam, not the West. This error could result from reversing the final positions of Akash and Pritam.
• Option C: This is incorrect. The distance is 11 km, not 15 km. This value might be obtained by incorrectly summing distances, for example, adding Akash's final Eastward movement (9 km) and Pritam's Westward movement (6 km), which gives 15, but this doesn't represent the final relative distance.
• Option D: This is incorrect due to errors in both distance and direction calculation. The distance is 11 km, not 15 km, and the direction is East, not West.

Related Visual

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 and spatial reasoning, which are general aptitude skills.
• While not directly related to clinical practice, strong problem-solving skills are essential for nurses in assessing situations and making decisions.
• This type of question is common in the non-nursing sections of competitive examinations for nursing positions.

How to Approach the Question

• First, establish a coordinate system. A simple (x, y) grid is effective, with the starting point at the origin (0, 0).
• Define the directions: North as +y, South as -y, East as +x, and West as -x.
• Carefully track the path of the first person (Pritam), updating their coordinates after each move. Pay close attention to turns ('right' or 'left') as the direction of the turn depends on the current direction of travel.
• Repeat the process for the second person (Akash), tracking their coordinates independently.
• Once you have the final coordinates for both individuals, calculate the distance and direction between them. If they share a coordinate (like the y-coordinate in this case), the distance is simply the difference in the other coordinate.

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Direction and Distance Reasoning
• Stem keywords: Pritam, Akash, walks, North, West, right
• Lead-in keywords: How far, in which direction

Question ID

QSmEBNRPxBsz8lCHKPywp4

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