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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. Mukesh was facing the south. He walked 5 km straight and from there he turned at a 90° angle to his right and walked 5 km. Then he turned at a 45° angle to his left and walked 3 km. Where will he be from his actual position?

  2. Sita took an auto from her home in Andheri (A) to go to her college in Fatehpuri (F). Rather than continuing straight on the direct road to the college that had no turns, the auto driver took a diversion after 10 km and tumed right at Bandra (B) crossing, then at Colaba T- point (C) after 8 km turned left, again after covering 12 km turned left at Dalhousi Building (D) and soon after 8 km turned right at Elphinston point (E) and after covering 4 km reached Fatehpuri (F). Had the auto driver taken the direct route how much less distance would Sita have actually travelled between the starting point and the destination?

  3. Radha walks a distance of 9 m towards the South-East. Then she walks 15 m towards the West. From here, she walks 9 m towards the North-West. Finally she walks 6 m towards the East and stands at the point. How far is she standing from the starting point?

  4. According to the time by Nihaal's watch its half past one and the hour hand is pointing towards the north-east. Assuming that there is no change in Nihaal's position, in which direction would the minute hand point after 30 minutes?

  5. According to the time by Rohan's watch, it is half past 6 and the watch's hands are pointing to the south. In which of the given directions will the minute-hand point AFTER exactly 24 hours?

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