Option 1 suggests that the man is 300 meters north of the starting point. This isn`t correct as he walked south 400 meters after walking northeasterly for 500 meters. Option 2 suggests he is 100 meters northeast. This is incorrect as the southward walk took him 400 meters, not directly south of the initial 500 meters northeasterly direction. Option 4 also suggests that the man is 100 meters north of the starting point. This is incorrect as the 400 meters walk to the south would have taken him past the starting point. The correct answer is option 3, which states that the man is 300 meters east of the starting point. This makes sense considering the man initially headed northeast and then south. Musings of any northerly direction would be nullified by the later southern walk.