A person facing the East travels 4 km straight and then turns right and travels 3 km, then further turns left and travels 2 km and finally turns left and travels 3 km. The minimum distance between the final point and the initial point, and the direction in which the person is facing at the final point are, respectively
Answer & explanation
Answer: (d) 6 km, North
Track each turn: East 4 km, right to South 3 km, left to East 2 km, left to North 3 km. The south and north legs cancel, leaving the person 6 km east of the start, facing North.
- Start facing East: 4 km East.
- Turn right → South: 3 km South.
- Turn left → East: 2 km East.
- Turn left → North: 3 km North.
- Net: 4 + 2 = 6 km East; 3 South − 3 North = 0. Distance 6 km, facing North.
Remember · Direction items: write the facing direction after every turn, then net out opposite legs.
Question and answer: UPSC's provisional GS Paper II (2026, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·