A person starts walking North for 12 meters. He turns right and walks 15 meters. Then he turns left and walks 8 meters. He again turns left and walks 3 meters. Finally, he turns left and walks 20 meters. What is the shortest distance from the starting point?
Correct: A
Let the starting point be (0,0).
1. Walks 12 meters North: (0, 12).
2. Turns right (East) and walks 15 meters: (15, 12).
3. Turns left (North) and walks 8 meters: (15, 12+8) = (15, 20).
4. Turns left (West) and walks 3 meters: (15-3, 20) = (12, 20).
5. Turns left (South) and walks 20 meters: (12, 20-20) = (12, 0).
His final position is (12, 0).
The shortest distance from the starting point (0,0) to (12,0) is 12 meters.