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Question

Vinita and Sunita are standing in a park facing each other at the time of sunrise. If the shadow of Vinita falls to the left of Sunita, which direction is Vinita facing?

This question was previously asked in
SSC Stenographer 2019 Previous Year Paper (24-Dec-2020) (Shift 2)
The correct answer is

South

Solving Directional Reasoning Problems: Vinita and Sunita at Sunrise

This problem involves directional reasoning, specifically how shadows behave during sunrise and how relative positions affect facing directions. We are given a scenario with Vinita and Sunita facing each other at sunrise, and we need to determine Vinita's facing direction based on the position of her shadow relative to Sunita.

Understanding Shadow Direction at Sunrise

The time of day is crucial in determining the direction of shadows. At sunrise, the sun is in the East. When the sun is in the East, the shadow of any object falls in the opposite direction, which is West.

  • Sun's position at sunrise: East
  • Shadow direction at sunrise: West

So, Vinita's shadow is falling towards the West.

Analyzing the Condition: Vinita's Shadow and Sunita's Left

The problem states that Vinita's shadow falls to the left of Sunita. We know Vinita's shadow is falling towards the West. This means that for Sunita, the West direction is to her left.

Determining Sunita's Facing Direction

Let's consider which direction Sunita must be facing for West to be on her left side:

  • If Sunita faces North: Her left is West, and her right is East.
  • If Sunita faces South: Her left is East, and her right is West.
  • If Sunita faces East: Her left is North, and her right is South.
  • If Sunita faces West: Her left is South, and her right is North.

Since West is to Sunita's left, Sunita must be facing North.

Determining Vinita's Facing Direction

The problem states that Vinita and Sunita are standing in the park facing each other. If Sunita is facing North, then Vinita must be facing the opposite direction.

  • Sunita faces: North
  • Vinita faces: Opposite of North
  • Opposite of North is: South

Therefore, Vinita is facing South.

Summary of Directions

Person Facing Direction Left Side Direction Right Side Direction Shadow Direction (Sunrise)
Sunita North West East N/A (Her left/right is relative to Vinita's shadow)
Vinita South East West West

The condition is that Vinita's shadow (West) falls to Sunita's left. Sunita facing North has West on her left side. Since they face each other, Vinita must face South if Sunita faces North.

Final Answer Derivation

Step 1: Identify the time of day (sunrise) to determine shadow direction (West).

Step 2: Understand the condition (Vinita's shadow is to Sunita's left). This means West is to Sunita's left.

Step 3: Determine Sunita's facing direction based on her left side being West (Sunita faces North).

Step 4: Determine Vinita's facing direction based on them facing each other (Vinita faces South).

Based on this analysis, Vinita is facing South.

Revision Table: Key Concepts

Concept Description Relevance to Problem
Shadow at Sunrise Sun is in the East, shadows fall towards the West. Determines Vinita's shadow direction.
Relative Direction Understanding left/right based on facing direction. Determining Sunita's facing direction from her left side.
Facing Each Other Two people face opposite directions. Relating Vinita's direction to Sunita's direction.

Additional Information on Directional Reasoning

Directional reasoning questions often involve understanding the four cardinal directions (North, South, East, West) and the four intercardinal directions (North-East, North-West, South-East, South-West). Key elements often include:

  • Turns: Left turns (90° anti-clockwise) and Right turns (90° clockwise).
  • Shadows: Position changes based on the time of day (sunrise, sunset, noon) and the position of the light source (sun).
  • Relative Positioning: Understanding "to the left of," "to the right of," "in front of," "behind."
  • Facing Directions: Determining the final direction a person or object is facing after a series of movements or turns.

Practice with different times of day (sunset, noon) and different initial positions (starting from a known point) can help master these types of problems.

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Similar Questions

  1. One morning, Riti walks towards the east and sees her friend Sanju coming from a direction. She sees Sanju's shadow towards his right. From which direction Sanju is coming?

  2. Kedar starts form his house and travel s 25 km towards the south by bicycle and reaches the bus stand. Then he takes a left turn and travels 15 km., take takes a left turn again and travels 25 km more. How far is he form his original position?

  3. In a morning after sunrise, a boy rode his bicycle 4 km towards west. Then the took right turn and rode 6 km then he right turn and rode 6 km to reach is school. In which direction the school is from then starting point?

  4. In morning after sunrise, a boy rode his bicycle 4 km towards North then he took right turn and rode 6 km then he took left turn and rode 5 km to reach his school. In which direction the starting point is with respect to location of School?

  5. Town P is to the East of town Q. Town R is to the South of town P. Town T is to the West of town R. Town P is towards which direction of town T?

  6. In a certain coded language.

    @ means East

    # means West

    means North

    ! means South

    For example,

    *@means North-East

    Mr. Rajan started from his house and moves towards East. After walking for a distance of 20 m, he took aright turn, and walks for 20 m. Then he took a left turn and walk for 15 m. After that he took a right turn and walked 15 m more towards his office. In which direction Mr. Rajan facing now?
  7. A policeman stepped out of the police station and walked 60 m towards west. He then took a left turn walked 38 m to reach a fruit shop. He then took a right turn and walked 60 m. He then took a right turn and walked 38 m to reach a restaurant. What is the approximate shortest distance between the police station and the restaurant via the fruit shop?

  8. Malini went from her office to the bank. She started her journey facing West. First, she went 2 km straight; then she turned to her right and went 3 km; finally, she turned left and walked 2 km to reach the bank.

    What is the shortest distance between Malini’s office and the bank?
  9. VD Raman’s house is 30 m to the left of a temple, which is 40 m to the north of church. One day, VD Raman starts from his house and takes the roads which is parallel to the temple-church road and walks 50 m before turning to his right. He further walks 20 m and reaches a gym.

    What is difference between the straight distance between VD Raman’s house and the church and the temple and the gym?
  10. Manish is facing South. He took 90° right and walked 8 km. then he turn right and walked 6 km. What is the minimum distance between starting point to ending point?


Important Questions from Direction and Distance

  1. What is the direction of U with respect to P?

  2. What is the shortest distance between R and T?

  3. If a person walks 3m towards the North from point V, takes a right turn and walks for another 15m, which of the following points would he reach?

  4. In which direction is Amit facing at point F?

  5. What is the distance between the starting point and the end point?

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