1999 General Studies, all questions
UPSC Prelims 1999 · General Studies
Question 148: Basic Numeracy
At a given time, two players are standing on a play-field. The cartesian coordinates of their locations are (20, 60) and (-40, -20) units. What is the distance between the players?
a60 units
b80 units
c100 units
d140 units
AnswerThe answer is (c).
Use the distance formula: the differences in the coordinates are 20 - (-40) = 60 and 60 - (-20) = 80. Distance = square root of (60 squared + 80 squared) = square root of (3600 + 6400) = square root of 10,000 = 100 units. It is a 3-4-5 triangle scaled by 20.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Wrong. 60 is only the difference in x.
- (b) Wrong. 80 is only the difference in y.
- (c) Right. The distance is 100 units.
- (d) Wrong. 140 adds the two differences instead of using the formula.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1999, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.