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. 16721-solve-this-direction-test-question-a-person-starts-from-point-o-walks-5-m-north-then-17-m-east

Solve this Direction Test question: A person starts from point O, walks 5 m North, then 17 m East, then 10 m South, and finally 5 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 5 m North, then 17 m East, then 10 m South, and finally 5 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, 17 m

CSouth, 13 m

DSouth-East, 13 m

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

Explanation

The verified answer to “Solve this Direction Test question: A person starts from point O, walks 5 m North, then 17 m East, then 10 m South, and finally 5 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 17 m East and 5 m West, so net x = 17 - 5 = 12 m. Vertical calculation: the person moves 5 m North and 10 m South, so net y = 5 - 10 = -5 m. The signs of (12, -5) place the final point in the South-East direction. The shortest distance is straight-line displacement: √((12)² + (-5)²) = √(144 + 25) = √169 = 13 m. Therefore option D, 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.

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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 5 m North, then 17 m East, then 10 m South, and finally 5 m West. In which direction and at what shortest distance is the person from O?”?

South-East, 13 m, option D.

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.

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