A car travels 17 km towards the south, then turns towards the east and travels 11 km. After that it turns towards the north and travels 9 km, and finally it turns to its left and travels another 11 km. Where is the car now with reference to its original starting position?

Introduction / Context:
This direction sense problem involves a car making several movements and turns, ultimately forming a path that partially cancels out. The question asks for the final position of the car relative to where it started, in terms of direction and distance. It tests understanding of cardinal directions, turning left while facing a given direction, and net displacement calculation.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The car starts from an origin point.
• First it travels 17 km south.
• Then it turns east and travels 11 km.
• Next it turns north and travels 9 km.
• Finally, from facing north, it turns left and travels 11 km west.
• All movements are in straight lines with right angle turns.

Concept / Approach:
We model all movements as vectors on an x y coordinate plane. Taking the starting point as (0, 0), south decreases the y coordinate, north increases it, east increases the x coordinate, and west decreases it. After each movement, we update the coordinates and then inspect the final coordinates to determine both the direction and magnitude of displacement from the starting point.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Take the starting position as (0, 0). Travelling 17 km south gives (0, -17). Turning east and travelling 11 km gives (11, -17). Turning north and travelling 9 km gives (11, -8). From facing north, a left turn means west, so travelling 11 km west gives (0, -8). Final position relative to the origin is (0, -8). Thus, the car is 8 km south of its starting point.

Verification / Alternative check:
Observe that the 11 km east and 11 km west cancel each other, leaving no net horizontal displacement. For vertical movement, the car goes 17 km south and only 9 km north, so net displacement is 17 - 9 = 8 km towards the south. This independent argument confirms the coordinate based solution.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A: 8 km North reverses the actual net direction.
Option C and Option D: 26 km South or 26 km North misrepresent both direction and magnitude.
Option E: None of these is not correct because 8 km South appears explicitly and matches the correct result.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners confuse the final left turn from north, incorrectly assuming it leads east instead of west. Others simply add distances without considering cancellations between opposite directions. The key is to separate horizontal and vertical components and compute net movement in each axis carefully.

Final Answer:
The car is finally located 8 km South of its starting position.