1997 General Studies, all questions
UPSC Prelims 1997 · General Studies
Question 136: Basic Numeracy
P is 300 km eastward of O and Q is 400 km north of O. R is exactly in the middle of Q and P. The distance between Q and R is
a250 km
b300 km
c350 km
d250* km
AnswerThe answer is (a).
O, P and Q form a right-angled triangle at O, with OP = 300 km and OQ = 400 km, a 3-4-5 triangle scaled by 100. So PQ = 500 km. R is the midpoint of QP, so QR = 500 ÷ 2 = 250 km.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Right: 250 km.
- (b) 300 km is the distance OP, not QR.
- (c) 350 km does not follow from the triangle.
- (d) 250* km looks like a misprint of the figure already given in (a).
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1997, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.