Which way is east and which way is west?

The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

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A general direction of east and west can be determined by the sun rising in the east and setting in the west..however this only a geneal reference and is not true east/west except for certain times of the year..

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In the northern hemisphere the sun rises at its most southerly point in midwinter(southeast) - this is known as the winter solstice (December 21st) - and in mid-summer at its most northerly point (northeast)- the summer solstice (June 21st). Midway between those dates the sun rises due east and sets due west on the spring equinox (March 21st) and the autumn equinox (September 23rd)...