Solution:-

If you observe the question with a diagram you will see it will form a right angle triangle

Therefore on applying pythagoras theorame (base=5m and p=12m)

>h^2=p^2+b^2

>h^2=12^2+5^2

>h^2=144+25

>h^2=169

>h=13m

Thus,the distance of the man from the starting point is 13m

Ans:-13m