Starting from a bus depot, a cyclist rides 14 km towards the South. He turns left and rides 9 km, turns left again and rides 14 km, and then turns right and rides 11 km. How far and in which direction is he from the bus depot?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → 20 km East
A left turn moves the facing direction one step anticlockwise (South → East → North) and a right turn moves the facing direction one step clockwise (North → East). Track the facing direction after every turn and keep a running total of the distance from the depot.
Facing South, 14 km: 14 km south of the depot
Turns left, now facing East, 9 km: 14 km south, 9 km east
Turns left, now facing North, 14 km: \(14-14=0\) km south, 9 km east
Turns right, now facing East, 11 km: \(9+11=20\) km east
He is 20 km East of the bus depot.
