Direction

The Direction is a part of logical reasoning that assesses a person's ability to trace and determine directions (like North, South, East, West) based on a set of movements or instructions. It evaluates spatial orientation and analytical thinking.

📍Basic Directions & Diagram

There are 8 principal directions:

           N
           ↑
     NW ←     → NE
           •
     SW ←     → SE
           ↓
           S

• 4 Main Directions: North, South, East, West

• 4 Sub-Directions: North-East (NE), North-West (NW), South-East (SE), South-West (SW)

🧭 Standard Orientation Rules

Direction	Turns
Left from North → West
Right from North → East
Left from East → North
Right from East → South
Left from South → East
Right from South → West
Left from West → South
Right from West → North

🔑 Important Methods / Tips

✅ Method 1: Draw Rough Diagrams

Always draw a basic compass (N-E-S-W) and mark each turn/distance step-by-step.

✅ Method 2: Track Turns

Left/Right turns depend on current facing direction.

✅ Method 3: Distance Formula (if needed)

Use Pythagoras Theorem to find shortest distance (if final path is diagonal):

Distance = √(x² + y²)

✍️ Example-Based Learning with Diagrams

Example 1: Basic Direction

Q: A person is facing North. He turns right, then right again, then left. Which direction is he facing?

✅ Solution:

• Starts facing North

• Turns right → East

• Turns right again → South

• Turns left → East

✅ Answer: East

Example 2: Distance & Direction

Q: Ravi walks 5 km North, then turns right and walks 3 km. Then turns right again and walks 5 km. How far is he from his starting point, and in which direction?

✅ Solution with diagram:

Start → A
Walks 5 km North → B
Right turn (East) 3 km → C
Right turn (South) 5 km → D (Final position)

So A and D lie on the same horizontal line.
Distance = 3 km
Direction = East

✅ Answer: 3 km East

Example 3: Compass Puzzle

Q: A boy walks 10 m south, turns left and walks 10 m, then turns left again and walks 10 m. What direction is he facing now?

✅ Solution:

• Faces South → Left → East

• Then Left → North

✅ Answer: North

Example 4: Pythagoras Theorem Use

Q: A person walks 6 km North, then 8 km East. What is the shortest distance from the starting point?

✅ Solution:

Draw a right-angled triangle.

North = 6 km  
East = 8 km

Shortest distance = √(6² + 8²) = √(36 + 64) = √100 = 10 km

✅ Answer: 10 km

🧮 Practice Concept: Direction to Distance Conversion Table

Path	Final Direction	Shortest Distance
North → East	North-East	√(N² + E²)
South → West	South-West	√(S² + W²)
East → North	North-East	√(E² + N²)
West → South	South-West	√(W² + S²)

📝 7. Common Questions Types in Exams

1. Final direction after turns

2. Final position in compass

3. Distance from the starting point

4. Number of turns made

5. Face-to-face puzzles (e.g., “Person A is to the left of B…”)

🎯 Quick Recap: Step-by-Step Solving Method

1. Draw Compass (N-E-S-W)

2. Mark initial direction

3. Track each movement & turn

4. Draw each segment

5. Apply Pythagoras if needed

6. Answer direction & distance accordingly

🧪 Practice Challenge

Q: Ramesh walks 4 km north, turns right and walks 3 km, turns right and walks 4 km. How far is he from the starting point and which direction?

🧠 Try it first! (Answer below)

✅ Answer:

• Direction: South of Starting Point

• Distance = 3 km

✅ Practice Questions - Direction

🧭 Q1. Ravi is facing North. He turns right, then right again, and finally turns left. What direction is he facing now?

Solution:

• Start: North

• Right → East

• Right → South

• Left → East ✅

Answer: East

Diagram:

  N ↑
    |
W ← + → E
    |
  S ↓
Final: →

🧭 Q2. Sita walks 10 m North, turns right and walks 5 m, then turns right and walks 10 m. How far is she from her starting point, and in which direction?

Diagram:

Start → Walks 10m North ↑
Turns right (East) → 5m →
Turns right (South) ↓ 10m

Final position is 5m East of start

Answer: 5 meters East

🧭 Q3. A person walks 6 km South, turns left, and walks 4 km. What is the shortest distance from the starting point?

Use Pythagoras:

North–South = 6 km  
East–West = 4 km  
Distance = √(6² + 4²) = √(36 + 16) = √52 ≈ 7.2 km

Answer: Approximately 7.2 km

Direction: South-East

🧭 Q4. Ram walks 3 km East, then 4 km North. What is the shortest distance from the starting point?

Distance = √(3² + 4²) = √(9 + 16) = √25 = 5 km

Answer: 5 km North-East

Diagram:

Start →
       ↑
Final position

🧭 Q5. A person is facing West. He turns right, then left, and again left. What direction is he facing now?

• Start: West

• Right → North

• Left → West

• Left → South ✅

Answer: South

Diagram:

Facing ←
→ ↑ ← ↓
Final: ↓

🧭 Q6. Rohit walks 5 km North, then 6 km West. How far is he from his starting point?

North = 5 km  
West = 6 km  
Distance = √(5² + 6²) = √61 ≈ 7.8 km

Answer: Approximately 7.8 km North-West

🧭 Q7. A man walks 10 m South, 10 m East, and 10 m North. How far is he from the starting point and in which direction?

Diagram:

Start  
↓ 10m  
→ 10m  
↑ 10m

Final: 10m East

Answer: 10 meters East

🧭 Q8. A person starts walking facing East. He turns left, then left again, and finally right. What direction is he facing?

• Start: East

• Left → North

• Left → West

• Right → North ✅

Answer: North

🧭 Q9. Renu walks 8 km North, then turns left and walks 6 km. What is the shortest distance to her starting point?

North = 8 km  
West = 6 km  
Distance = √(64 + 36) = √100 = 10 km

Answer: 10 km

Direction: North-West

🧭 Q10. Karan walks 7 km West, then turns right and walks 3 km. Which direction is he now facing, and how far from his starting point?

• West → Right → North

• Distance = √(7² + 3²) = √58 ≈ 7.6 km

Answer: 7.6 km North-West