A boy runs 20 metres towards the east and then turns to his right, runs 10 metres, and again turns to his right and runs 9 metres. He then turns left and runs 5 metres, turns left again and runs 12 metres, and finally turns left once more and runs 6 metres. After all these movements, in which direction is the boy facing?

Introduction / Context:
This problem describes a series of movements and multiple direction changes for a boy and asks only for the final direction he is facing, not his position. Direction sense questions of this type require careful tracking of each turn relative to the current facing, especially when there are several consecutive right and left turns.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Initial direction: the boy runs 20 m east.
• He turns right and runs 10 m (towards the south).
• He turns right again and runs 9 m (towards the west).
• He turns left and runs 5 m (towards the south).
• He turns left again and runs 12 m (towards the east).
• He turns left once more and runs 6 m (towards the north).
• We must determine only his final facing direction.

Concept / Approach:
It is often easier to track only orientation changes for such questions. Starting from east, a right turn leads to south, from south a right turn leads to west, from west a left turn leads to south, from south a left turn leads to east, and from east a left turn leads to north. Distances do not change orientation; only the sequence of left and right turns does. Keeping a mental or drawn compass helps avoid confusion.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Initial facing: east. First turn: right from east gives south. Second turn: right from south gives west. Third turn: left from west gives south. Fourth turn: left from south gives east. Fifth turn: left from east gives north. So, after all movements, the boy is facing north.

Verification / Alternative check:
Another way is to list directions as E, S, W, N around a circle in clockwise order. A right turn moves one step clockwise, and a left turn moves one step anticlockwise. Starting at E: right to S, right to W, left back to S, left to E, and left to N. Both methods confirm that the final facing direction is north.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A: East is only the initial direction and temporarily revisited before the last turn.
Option B: West is the direction after the second turn, not final.
Option D: South is the direction after the first and third turns, not after the entire sequence.
Option E: None of these is incorrect because North is present and correct.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners often try to track both position and direction at the same time and become confused by distances, which do not matter for orientation. Another common issue is miscounting the number of turns or reversing left and right when facing south or west. Focusing purely on the sequence of turns and using a compass diagram prevents these errors.

Final Answer:
The boy is finally facing towards the North.