CA Foundation · Quantitative Aptitude · Direction Tests
Arjun walks 9 m towards the east and then 40 m towards the north. What is the shortest distance between his starting point and his final position?
The shortest distance is 41 m. Since the east and north walks are at right angles, the straight-line distance is the hypotenuse of a right triangle: the square root of 81 plus 1600, which is the square root of 1681, equal to 41 m.
- A31 m
- B41 mCorrect
- C49 m
- D39 m
Explanation
The two walks are perpendicular, so distance = √(9² + 40²) = √(81 + 1600) = √1681 = 41 m. Check: 41² = 1681. Option 31 m wrongly subtracts the legs, and 49 m wrongly adds them.
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