Rimpy walks 250 m North from home, turns right and travels 20 m East, then turns right again and goes 250 m South. How much distance must she still cover to return straight to her home?

Introduction / Context:
This is a rectangular path with two equal and opposite long legs (250 m each) and one short side (20 m). After the described movements, you must compute the straight-line distance back to home.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• North 250 m from home.
• Right turn → East 20 m.
• Right turn → South 250 m.
• Home is directly West from the endpoint by the short offset.

Concept / Approach:
The northward leg and the southward leg cancel. Only the 20 m eastward shift remains. The distance to go straight back home is the horizontal offset between the current position and the vertical line through home.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Sketch a rectangle: the path forms two parallel 250 m sides separated by 20 m.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
25 m, 4 m, or 40 m do not match the single horizontal offset produced by the path.

Common Pitfalls:
Treating the problem as a diagonal return; here the vertical part already cancels out fully.

Final Answer:
20 m