Solve this Direction Test question: A person starts from point O, walks 18 m North, then 6 m East, then 6 m South, and finally 11 m West. In which direction and at what shortest distance is the person from O?
Explanation
The verified answer to “Solve this Direction Test question: A person starts from point O, walks 18 m North, then 6 m East, then 6 m South, and finally 11 m West. In which direction and at what shortest distance is the person from O?” is North-West, 13 m, option B. 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 6 m East and 11 m West, so net x = 6 - 11 = -5 m. Vertical calculation: the person moves 18 m North and 6 m South, so net y = 18 - 6 = 12 m. The signs of (-5, 12) place the final point in the North-West direction. The shortest distance is straight-line displacement: √((-5)² + (12)²) = √(25 + 144) = √169 = 13 m. Therefore option B, North-West, 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 North option is wrong because both non-zero coordinate components, or the exact zero component, determine North-West, not a neighbouring compass direction. This working identifies the relevant direction-distance map and connects the given information to the required result. To solve reliably, represent every term, person, seat, letter or operation in the order stated; then apply one rule consistently instead of guessing from the final pair alone. After applying the verified rule, the required value or position is North-West, 13 m. The alternatives South-East, 13 m, North-West, 17 m and North, 13 m fail because each breaks at least one stated condition, transition, direction or arithmetic step.