What is the fastest method for solving direction questions?

Use coordinates: East +x, West -x, North +y and South -y. Add movements axis-wise, identify direction from the final signs and use the Pythagorean formula when both coordinates are non-zero.

Logical Reasoning

mediumQ. No. 16719-solve-this-direction-test-question-a-person-starts-from-point-o-walks-4-m-north-then-9-m-east-then

Solve this Direction Test question: A person starts from point O, walks 4 m North, then 9 m East, then 16 m South, and finally 4 m West. In which direction and at what shortest distance is the person from O?

Last Updated: 21 Aug 2026

This bilingual Direction Test item asks the learner to solve “Solve this Direction Test question: A person starts from point O, walks 4 m North, then 9 m East, then 16 m South, and finally 4 m West. The validated answer is South-East, 13 m. The explanation preserves the original question-specific working, reconstructs the governing rule, checks every relevant condition or transition, and compares all three distractors. It builds disciplined reasoning, accurate option elimination and exam-ready verification for SSC, Railway, Banking.

ANorth-West, 13 m

BSouth-East, 13 m

CSouth-East, 17 m

DSouth, 13 m

Correct Answer: South-East, 13 mYour Answer: B

Explanation

The verified answer to “Solve this Direction Test question: A person starts from point O, walks 4 m North, then 9 m East, then 16 m South, and finally 4 m West. The question-specific working supplied with the item states: Use coordinates with O = (0, 0), East as positive x and North as positive y. Horizontal calculation: the person moves 9 m East and 4 m West, so net x = 9 - 4 = 5 m. Vertical calculation: the person moves 4 m North and 16 m South, so net y = 4 - 16 = -12 m. The signs of (5, -12) place the final point in the South-East direction. The shortest distance is straight-line displacement: √((5)² + (-12)²) = √(25 + 144) = √169 = 13 m. Therefore option B, South-East, 13 m, is correct. The opposite-direction option is wrong because it reverses the verified coordinate signs. The option giving 17 m is wrong because it does not use the Pythagorean shortest distance. The South option is wrong because both non-zero coordinate components, or the exact zero component, determine South-East, not a neighbouring compass direction. This working identifies the relevant direction-distance map and connects the given information to the required result. After applying the verified rule, the required value or position is South-East, 13 m. The alternatives North-West, 13 m, South-East, 17 m and South, 13 m fail because each breaks at least one stated condition, transition, direction or arithmetic step.

Important Notes

Rebuild the complete Direction Test direction-distance map before selecting South-East, 13 m.
Question-specific Direction Test working connects the stated clues or terms directly with South-East, 13 m.
Options North-West, 13 m, South-East, 17 m, South, 13 m each break a condition or transition in this Direction Test item.
Replay every step in the Direction Test direction-distance map to independently confirm South-East, 13 m.

Test your Direction Test knowledge

Start Topic Test

FAQ

Direction Test FAQs

Common questions and clear answers for this topic.

What is the verified answer to “Solve this Direction Test question: A person starts from point O, walks 4 m North, then 9 m East, then 16 m South, and finally 4 m West. In which direction and at what shortest distance is the person from O?”?

South-East, 13 m, option B.

Which method solves this Direction Test item?

Rebuild and verify the complete direction-distance map.

Why are the other options incorrect?

North-West, 13 m, South-East, 17 m, South, 13 m break a clue, direction, transition or operation.

How should the answer be checked?

Replay the rule from the first clue or term and test every intermediate step.

What is a Direction Test question in reasoning?

Direction Test questions describe movements or turns and ask for the final direction, relative position or shortest distance from a starting point. They test compass knowledge, spatial tracking and displacement calculation.

How do I calculate the shortest distance in Direction Test?

Find net East-West movement as x and net North-South movement as y. The shortest distance from the start is √(x² + y²), while the signs of x and y determine the final compass direction.

Same Topic MCQs

View All

Solve this Direction Test question: A person starts from point O, walks 4 m North,...Solve this Direction Test question: A person starts from point O, walks 3 m North,...Solve this Direction Test question: A person starts from point O, walks 7 m North,...