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UPSC Prelims 2026 CSAT, question 56

Topic: Logical reasoning

Q56

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

  1. (a) 12 km, East
  2. (b) 6 km, East
  3. (c) 8 km, North
  4. (d) 6 km, NorthCorrect answer

Solution.

Answer: (d) 6 km, North

  1. Starting at (0,0)(0, 0) facing East: travelling 44 km East reaches (4,0)(4, 0); turning right (South) and travelling 33 km reaches (4,−3)(4, -3).
  2. Turning left (East) and travelling 22 km reaches (6,−3)(6, -3); turning left (North) and travelling 33 km reaches (6,0)(6, 0) with the person facing North.
  3. The minimum distance from (0,0)(0, 0) to (6,0)(6, 0) is 66 km, and the final direction is North.