A man walked 2 km South, turned right and walked \(\frac{1}{2}\) km, turned North and walked 5 km, and then turned East and walked \(4\frac{1}{2}\) km. How far is he from the starting point?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → 5 km
A turn to the right or left is taken from the direction he is facing at that moment: walking South, a right turn points him West. The other two directions are named in the question.
East–West: \(4\frac{1}{2}\) km East minus \(\frac{1}{2}\) km West \(=4\) km East of the start
North–South: 5 km North minus 2 km South \(=3\) km North of the start
Distance from the start \(=\sqrt{4^2+3^2}=\sqrt{25}=5\) km
