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Question

Amit walked 5 km towards south, then he took a left turn and walked 12 km. Now which direction is he facing?

The correct answer is

East

Solving the Direction and Movement Problem

This question asks us to determine the direction Amit is facing after a series of movements and a turn. We need to follow his path step-by-step to find his final orientation.

Analyzing Amit's Movements

Let's break down the information given about Amit's walk:

  • Initial Movement: Amit starts walking 5 km towards the south. This means his initial direction of travel and facing direction is South.
  • The Turn: After walking 5 km towards the south, he takes a left turn.
  • Second Movement: After taking the left turn, he walks 12 km. The direction of this 12 km walk is determined by the direction he was facing after the turn.

Determining the Direction After the Turn

Understanding turns is crucial in direction problems. Let's consider the basic directions:

  • If you are facing North, a left turn makes you face West, and a right turn makes you face East.
  • If you are facing South, a left turn makes you face East, and a right turn makes you face West.
  • If you are facing East, a left turn makes you face North, and a right turn makes you face South.
  • If you are facing West, a left turn makes you face South, and a right turn makes you face North.

In this specific problem, Amit was facing South when he took a left turn. According to the rules above, a left turn from South leads to facing East.

Conclusion on Final Facing Direction

After walking 5 km South, Amit took a left turn. This turn caused him to change his facing direction from South to East. He then walked 12 km in this new direction. The question asks for the direction he is *facing* now, which is the direction he was heading after taking the left turn.

Therefore, Amit is now facing East.

Revision Table: Understanding Directions and Turns

Initial Facing Direction Turn Taken New Facing Direction
North Left West
North Right East
South Left East
South Right West
East Left North
East Right South
West Left South
West Right North

Additional Information: Solving Direction Problems

Direction and distance problems are common in reasoning tests. Here are some tips for solving them:

  • Visualize the movements or draw a simple diagram.
  • Break down the journey into steps.
  • Pay close attention to the starting point, turns (left/right), and distances.
  • Distinguish between the final facing direction and the final position relative to the start. The question specifically asks for the direction faced.
  • Remember that "left turn" and "right turn" refer to turning 90 degrees from the current facing direction.

In this problem, the distance walked after the turn (12 km) is relevant to potentially finding the final position relative to the start, but it does not affect the direction he is currently facing. His facing direction changed immediately upon taking the left turn from South.

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Important Questions from Direction and Distance

  1. Vijendra walks a certain distance, say X metres, from his home towards the west. Then he turns left and walks 23 metres. After that, he turns left and walks 36 metres. Then he turns left again to walk 23 metres. He finally turns left and walks 18 metres to reach his home. Find the value of X.
  2. Gaurav exits from the backdoor of his north-facing house and walks 25 m straight, then he takes a left turn and walks 36 m, then he turns left and walks 47 m. He turns left again and walks 36 m. How far and in which direction is he from his house now?

  3. Reeta is standing facing south-east. First, she turns 135° clockwise. After that, she turns 90 °  anticlockwise. Then she turns 45 °  clockwise, followed by a 135 ° anticlockwise  turn. In which direction is she facing now?

  4. Sahasra started running from her house towards the north. After 40 meters she turned left and ran for 75 meters. She then turned right and ran for 30 meters, and again turned right to run 75 meters. In which direction was she running finally?

  5. At the time of sunset, Lopa and Kritika are sitting facing each other. If the shadow of Lopa falls to the right of Kritika, in which direction is Kritika facing?

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