Question

Varun starts from Point A and drives 7 km towards north. He then takes a left turn, drives 4 km, turns left and drives 9 km. He then takes a left turn and drives 8 km. He takes a final left turn, drives 2 km and stops at Point P. How far (shortest distance) and towards which direction should he drive in order to reach Point A again? (All turns are 90° turns only unless specified.)

• A. 3 km to the east
• B. 4 km to the east
• C. 3 km to the west
• D. 4 km to the west

Answer 1

Answer:

D. 4 km to the west

1. Start at Point A: Varun heads 7 km North.

2. First Left Turn: Facing North, turning left means heading West. He drives 4 km. He is now 4 km west and 7 km north of Point A.

3. Second Left Turn: Facing West, turning left means heading South. He drives 9 km. Since he previously went 7 km north, this 9 km drive brings him 2 km south of the horizontal line of Point A.

4. Third Left Turn: Facing South, turning left means heading East. He drives 8 km. He was 4 km west of Point A's line, so driving 8 km east moves him past Point A's line and positions him 4 km East of it.

5. Final Left Turn: Facing East, turning left means heading North. He drives 2 km and stops at Point P. Since he was 2 km south of Point A's line, driving 2 km north places him exactly on the same horizontal line as Point A.

Conclusion:

Point P is situated exactly 4 km East of Point A.

To get back to Point A from his current position (Point P), Varun must drive 4 km towards the West.