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Question

A man starts from point ‘O’, travels 20 km towards East to reach point ‘A’, turns right and travels 10 km to reach point 'B', turns right and travels 9 km to reach point 'C', turns right and travels 5 km to reach point 'D', turns left and travels 12 km to reach point 'E' and then turns right and travels 6 km to reach point 'F'.

In which direction is the man facing now?

The correct answer is North 

Understanding the Direction Reasoning Problem

This problem involves tracing the path and orientation of a man as he moves through a series of steps involving distance and turns. The key is to determine the direction the man is facing at the end of his journey, not his final position relative to the start.

We need to carefully follow each instruction given in the question, noting the distance traveled and the direction faced after each turn.

Step-by-Step Movement Analysis

Let's break down the man's journey from point 'O' to point 'F'. We will track the direction he is facing at each stage.

  1. Starts from point 'O'. Let's assume he is initially facing in a neutral direction or the direction of his first movement.
  2. Travels 20 km towards East to reach point 'A'. At point 'A', the man has traveled East and is now facing East.
  3. Turns right at point 'A' and travels 10 km to reach point 'B'. If the man is facing East and turns right, he will be facing South. At point 'B', he is facing South.
  4. Turns right at point 'B' and travels 9 km to reach point 'C'. If the man is facing South and turns right, he will be facing West. At point 'C', he is facing West.
  5. Turns right at point 'C' and travels 5 km to reach point 'D'. If the man is facing West and turns right, he will be facing North. At point 'D', he is facing North.
  6. Turns left at point 'D' and travels 12 km to reach point 'E'. If the man is facing North and turns left, he will be facing West. At point 'E', he is facing West.
  7. Turns right at point 'E' and travels 6 km to reach point 'F'. If the man is facing West and turns right, he will be facing North. At point 'F', he is facing North.

Summarizing the Direction Changes

We can summarize the facing direction after each turn in a simple table:

Event Direction Faced After Turn/Movement
Start & Move to A (East) East
Turn Right at A South
Turn Right at B West
Turn Right at C North
Turn Left at D West
Turn Right at E North

The table clearly shows that after the final turn at point E, the man travels towards point F while facing North.

Final Facing Direction

After completing all the movements and turns as described, the man reaches point 'F' and is facing North.

Revision Table: Direction Reasoning Concepts

Current Facing Direction Turn New Facing Direction
North Right East
North Left West
East Right South
East Left North
South Right West
South Left East
West Right North
West Left South

Additional Information: Tips for Solving Direction Problems

Direction and distance problems are common in reasoning sections. Here are some tips to solve them effectively:

  • Always start from the given initial point and direction.
  • Draw a rough diagram if possible. Visualizing the path helps.
  • Pay close attention to whether the question asks for the final position relative to the start or the final facing direction.
  • Carefully note each turn (left or right) and calculate the new facing direction based on the current one.
  • Remember that a right turn is 90 degrees clockwise, and a left turn is 90 degrees counter-clockwise relative to the current facing direction.
  • Break down complex paths into smaller, manageable steps.
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Important Questions from Direction and Distance Turns

  1. Shweta starts walking from her office and walks 150 m towards the south, then she turns right and walks 80 m, and then she turns left and walks 60 m. She finally turns left and walks 280 m to reach a bank. What is the shortest distance between her office and the bank?

  2. Starting from her home, a woman walks 10 km towards the west. She turns left and walks 25 km. Again she turns left and walks 10 km. After that, she again turns left and walks 5 km. How far is she from her house now?

    A. 35

    B. 20

    C. 25

    D. 40

  3. A man travels 15 km towards the east, then turns right and travels 20 km. He then turns left and travels 30 km. Finally, he takes a right turn and covers 40 km. The shortest distance between the starting point and the destination is:

  4. Lalit walks 9 km east, turns left and walks another 8 km. He again takes a left and walks another 3 km. How far and in which direction is he now from his starting point?

  5. A boy starts from his home northward in order to go to a hotel. He took right turn and took left to reach the hotel. Which direction is the hotel facing?

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