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Question

Anurag and Bhavna started driving from the same point. Anurag drove North for 11 km, then turns right and covers 13 km. Bhavna goes West and covers 15 km, then turns right and covers 11 km. How far apart are they from each other in a straight line?

This question was previously asked in
SSC Stenographer 2023 Previous Year Paper (13-Oct-2023) (Shift 3)
The correct answer is

28 km

Calculating Distance Between Drivers' Final Positions

The problem asks us to find the straight-line distance between Anurag and Bhavna after they drive from the same starting point in different directions and distances. We can solve this by determining their final positions relative to the starting point and then calculating the distance.

Step-by-Step Solution: Tracking Movements

Let's assume the starting point is the origin (0, 0) on a coordinate plane. North is the positive y-axis, South is the negative y-axis, East is the positive x-axis, and West is the negative x-axis.

Anurag's Movement:

  • Starts at (0, 0).
  • Drives North for 11 km: This moves him 11 units up on the y-axis. His position becomes (0, 11).
  • Turns Right: When facing North, a right turn is towards the East.
  • Covers 13 km East: This moves him 13 units right on the x-axis from his current position. His position becomes (0 + 13, 11) = (13, 11).

Anurag's final position is (13, 11).

Bhavna's Movement:

  • Starts at (0, 0).
  • Goes West for 15 km: This moves her 15 units left on the x-axis. Her position becomes (-15, 0).
  • Turns Right: When facing West, a right turn is towards the North.
  • Covers 11 km North: This moves her 11 units up on the y-axis from her current position. Her position becomes (-15, 0 + 11) = (-15, 11).

Bhavna's final position is (-15, 11).

Calculating the Straight-Line Distance

Now we need to find the distance between Anurag's final position (13, 11) and Bhavna's final position (-15, 11).

The distance formula between two points $ (x_1, y_1) $ and $ (x_2, y_2) $ is given by $ \sqrt{(x_2 - x_1)^2 + (y_2 - y_1)^2} $.

Here, $(x_1, y_1) = (13, 11)$ and $(x_2, y_2) = (-15, 11)$.

Distance = $ \sqrt{(-15 - 13)^2 + (11 - 11)^2} $

Distance = $ \sqrt{(-28)^2 + (0)^2} $

Distance = $ \sqrt{784 + 0} $

Distance = $ \sqrt{784} $

Distance = $ 28 $

Alternatively, notice that both Anurag and Bhavna are at the same y-coordinate (11). This means they are on a horizontal line at a height of 11 km above the starting point's horizontal level. The distance between them is simply the difference in their x-coordinates.

Anurag's x-coordinate is 13.

Bhavna's x-coordinate is -15.

Distance = $|13 - (-15)| = |13 + 15| = |28| = 28$ km.

The straight-line distance between them is 28 km.

Summary of Movements and Positions
Person Starting Point Movement 1 Position after Mvt 1 Movement 2 Final Position
Anurag (0, 0) North 11 km (0, 11) Right 13 km (East) (13, 11)
Bhavna (0, 0) West 15 km (-15, 0) Right 11 km (North) (-15, 11)

Revision Table: Key Concepts

Important Concepts for Direction Problems
Concept Description Application in this Problem
Coordinate Geometry Using (x, y) coordinates to represent positions. Starting point (0,0), final positions (13,11) and (-15,11).
Directions (N, S, E, W) Mapping directions to coordinate axes. North = +y, South = -y, East = +x, West = -x.
Turns (Left/Right) Changing direction based on current orientation. Right turn from North is East; Right turn from West is North.
Straight-Line Distance Shortest distance between two points. Calculated using the distance formula or by observing the positions.

Additional Information: Understanding Directions and Turns

In direction-based problems, it's crucial to visualize the movements correctly. Imagine yourself facing the direction mentioned and then making the turn.

  • Facing North, a right turn is East.
  • Facing South, a right turn is West.
  • Facing East, a right turn is South.
  • Facing West, a right turn is North.

Similarly for left turns:

  • Facing North, a left turn is West.
  • Facing South, a left turn is East.
  • Facing East, a left turn is North.
  • Facing West, a left turn is South.

Using a coordinate system helps simplify these problems, allowing you to represent each movement as a change in the x or y coordinate.

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Similar Questions

  1. After leaving school, Hemant and Anurag walk towards the north for 1 km to reach a bus stop. From the bus stop, Hemant turns left and walks for 500 m. Then he turns towards his left and walks for 2 km to reach his home. From the bus stop, Anurag turns right and walks for 250 m. Then he turns right and walks for 1 km to reach his home. In which direction is Anurag's home from Hemant's home?

  2. Tamanna is walking towards the north from her house. After 500 metres she turns left and walks for 500 metres. Then she turns left and walks 250 metres to reach her friend’s house. In Which direction is her house from her friend’s house?

  3. Starting from a point A, an animal walked 15 m towards East. It took a left turn and walked 25 m. Then, it took a right turn and walked 10 m. Again it took a left turn and walked 15 m. Finally, it took a left turn and walked 25 m. How far and in which directions is the animal now from the starting point A?

  4. Sumit is facing north-east, and then he turns 90° clockwise. After that, he turns 135° anticlockwise. Finally, he turns 90° clockwise. In which direction is he facing now?
  5. The length and breadth of a hall are 16 m and 13 m, respectively. A dog runs along all four walls once to catch the bone. How much total distance does the dog cover?

  6. Gurman drove 28 km towards the West, took a left turn and drove 22 km. She then took a right turn and drove 18 km. She again took a right turn and drove 22 km. How far is she from starting point in a straight line?

  7. Indira starts from point A, which is 7 km towards East of point B. From point A, she drives 4 km towards East. From here, she takes a left turn and drives 9 km. She then takes a left turn, drives 9 km and stops at point C. If from point C, Indira drives 9 km towards South, how far will she be from point B?

  8. Manjot cycles X km towards North and then turns left and cycles Y km to reach her shop. The shortest distance between the starting point and her shop is 5 km. What can be the value of X and Y in km?

  9. One evening when Rosy was going to the market, she saw the Sun to her right. She walked for 100 metres and turned left and walked 50 metres to reach a crossroad. From there she walked towards the south for 40 Metres, and finally she turned left and walked 60 metres to reach the market. In which direction is the market from her house?

  10. Maheep starts walking from his office and walks 120 m towards south. Then he turns left and walks a certain distance A m. Then turns right and walks 80 m. Then he turns left and walks another certain distance B m. He there by reaches his home. If the shortest distance between his office and home is 290 m, then what is the sum of the distances A and B that Maheep covered/walked?


Important Questions from Direction and Distance Turns

  1. After leaving school, Hemant and Anurag walk towards the north for 1 km to reach a bus stop. From the bus stop, Hemant turns left and walks for 500 m. Then he turns towards his left and walks for 2 km to reach his home. From the bus stop, Anurag turns right and walks for 250 m. Then he turns right and walks for 1 km to reach his home. In which direction is Anurag's home from Hemant's home?

  2. A bank employee drives 10 km towards South from her house and turns to her left and drives another 20 km. She again turns left and drives 40 km, then she turns to her right and drives for another 5 km. She again turns to her right and drives another 30 km to reach her bank where she works. What is the shortest distance between her bank and her house ?

  3. A woman runs 12 km towards her North, then 6 km towards her South and then 8 km towards her East. In which direction is she from her starting point ?

  4. Two friends Xand Ystart running and they run together for 50 m in the same direction and reach a point. Xturns right and runs 60 m, while Yturns left and runs 40 m. Then Xturns left and runs 50 m and stops, while Yturns right and runs 50 m and then stops. How far are the two friends from each other now?

  5. Rohan walks 10 km towards north from a point A. Then he turns right and walks 6 km. Then, he again turns right and walks 10 km. In which direction is he now from the starting point?

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