After plotting the movements, 'A's final position relative to the start is 30m East and 12m South. 'B's final position relative to the start is 30m East and 2m North. The difference in their North-South positions is 14m (12m South + 2m North). The difference in their East-West positions is 0m as they both moved 30m East. The shortest distance between them is therefore the hypotenuse of a right triangle with legs 0m and 14m, but this is incorrect based on detailed step-by-step tracing.

Tracing A's path: House -> 20m East -> 10m East (total 30m East). Then A turns left (North) for 2m. Then A turns right (East) for 12m. A's final position is 30m East + 12m East = 42m East, and 2m North from the junction point.

Tracing B's path: House -> 20m East -> 10m East (total 30m East). Then B turns right (South) for 8m. Then B turns left (East) for 4m. Then B turns right (South) for 5m. B's final position is 30m East + 4m East = 34m East, and 8m South + 5m South = 13m South from the junction point.

Let the starting point be (0,0).

'A's office: (42, 2)

'B's office: (34, -13)

Difference in Easting: 42 - 34 = 8m

Difference in Northing: 2 - (-13) = 15m

Shortest distance = sqrt(8^2 + 15^2) = sqrt(64 + 225) = sqrt(289) = 17m.