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UPSC Prelims 2024CSATLogical ReasoningDirection Sense

Q56. A person walks 100 m straight from his house, turns left and walks 100 m, again turns left and walks 300 m, then turns right and walks 100 m to reach his office. In which direction does he walk initially from his house if his office is exactly in the North-East direction?

A. North-West
B. West
C. South✓ Correct
D. South-West

Detailed Solution

✓ Correct Answer: Option C

Let's assume the person initially walks North and trace the path: 1. Starts at (0,0), walks 100m North: (0, 100). 2. Turns left (now facing West), walks 100m: (-100, 100). 3. Turns left (now facing South), walks 300m: (-100, 100 - 300) = (-100, -200).

4. Turns right (now facing West), walks 100m: (-100 - 100, -200) = (-200, -200). In this hypothetical scenario, the office is at (-200, -200) relative to the house (0,0), which is in the South-West direction.

The problem states that the office is actually in the North-East direction. South-West is exactly opposite to North-East (180 degrees apart). This means our initial assumption for the starting direction was 180 degrees off.

If assuming North led to South-West, then the actual starting direction must be 180 degrees opposite to North, which is South. Let's verify with an initial South direction: 1. Starts at (0,0), walks 100m South: (0, -100).

2. Turns left (now facing East), walks 100m: (100, -100). 3. Turns left (now facing North), walks 300m: (100, -100 + 300) = (100, 200). 4. Turns right (now facing East), walks 100m: (100 + 100, 200) = (200, 200).

The office is at (200, 200) relative to the house (0,0), which is indeed in the North-East direction. Thus, he initially walked South. This question tests direction sense and spatial reasoning.

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