Starting from a bus stop, Harish walks 12 m towards the South. He turns right and walks 9 m, turns right again and walks 20 m, and then turns left and walks 6 m. How far and in which direction is he from the bus stop?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → 17 m North-West
A right turn moves the facing direction one step clockwise (South → West → North) and a left turn one step anticlockwise (North → West). Keep a running total of the distance from the bus stop; then use Pythagoras.
Facing South, 12 m: 12 m south of the bus stop
Turns right, now facing West, 9 m: 12 m south, 9 m west
Turns right, now facing North, 20 m: \(20-12=8\) m north, 9 m west
Turns left, now facing West, 6 m: 8 m north, \(9+6=15\) m west
Distance \(=\sqrt{15^{2}+8^{2}}=\sqrt{225+64}=\sqrt{289}=17\) m
He is north and west of the bus stop, so the direction is North-West
Harish is 17 m North-West of the bus stop.
