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As the name suggests, Direction and Distance questions are based on the distance and/or direction puzzle. Based on the given distance and direction, candidates need to find out the final direction from the starting point and/or find out the distance, covered between starting point and the final or end point.
To solve direction and distance reasoning questions, candidates need to know about the directions; there are 4 main directions and 4 sub directions. The main directions are; East, West, North, and South, whereas the sub directions are: North-East, North-West, South-East, and South-West.
Besides this, the right turn and left turn are generally asked in the direction and distance reasoning section. The direction of the right turn is always clockwise whereas the direction of the left turn is always anticlockwise.
Types of Direction and Distance Reasoning
As now we know what consists of the questions related to the Direction and Distance reasoning section, let us see the various types of Direction and Distance questions below.
1. Turns and Rotations
In these types of Distance and Direction Reasoning Questions, rotations such as clockwise or anticlockwise, and turns such as left or right taken by people will be given and candidates will need to find his/her final position.
2. Distance and Displacement
A displacement is a short distance between the initial and final position of a point or a person. It quantifies both distance and direction. For example, if a person starts walking from a point and after walking 100m, reaches the same point from where he started then the displacement of that person is 0, whereas the distance travelled by him is 100m.
3. Shadow Based
In this types of Distance and Direction Reasoning, Questions are asked based on shadow. Shadows always fall on the opposite side of the Sun. For example, from sunrise to afternoon, such as before 12 PM, the shadow will fall in the west direction, whereas from afternoon to evening, such as after 12 PM, the shadow will fall in the east direction. No shadow will be formed at 12 PM.
4. Coded Directions and Distance
In these types of Distance and Direction Reasoning Questions, distance and directions are given in coded form and using the coded expression given in the question, candidates need to decode it and find the final answer.
5. Direction Puzzle
In these types of Distance and Direction Reasoning Questions, persons or elements are arranged in a row and then move them in different directions.
How to Solve Direction and Distance Reasoning Questions – Tips and Tricks
Candidates can find various tips and distance and direction reasoning tricks from below for solving the questions related to the Direction and Distance reasoning section.
Tip # 1: To resolve these types of questions, candidates need to know about the directions, there are 4 main directions and four sub directions. The main directions are; East, West, North, and South, whereas the sub directions are: North-East, North-West, South-East, and South-West.
Tip # 2: Besides this, the right turn and left turn are generally asked in the direction and distance reasoning section. The direction of the right turn is always clockwise whereas the direction of the left turn is always anticlockwise.
Tip # 3: To find the shortest distance covered between a starting point and the end point, candidates need to use the Pythagoras formula such as H^2 = B^2 + P^2, where H is the hypotenuse, B is the Base, and P is the Perpendicular.
Tip # 4: Always use NESW in a clockwise direction. North is opposite to South and East is opposite to West.
Sample Direction and Distance Questions
Given below are sample direction and distance reasoning questions with answers to help you better understand the concepts behind it:
Question 1: Renu is facing south, She turns 90 degree left, then she turns 90 degree right, then she turns 180 degree left. Now in which direction is she facing?
Solution: If we analyse the question then according to the question Renu should be facing North right now. North is the correct answer.
Question 2: Harry starts walking from his home, after walking 7 KM towards East he takes right and walks for another 8 KM. Now he turns 135 degrees right and walks for 2 KM and stops. What is the direction of the initial point with respect to the final stop point?
Solution: According to the question, if we draw the diagram we get North-West. So the correct answer is North-West.
Question 3: A Nurse moved 90 m in the East in a hospital to look for her duty doctor, then she turned right and went 20m. After this she turned right and after going 30 m she reached I.C.U but the Doctor was not there. From there she went 100 m to her north and met her doctor. What distance did she move to meet her duty doctor from the starting point?
Solution: If we use the Pythagoras formula, then we get
H^2 = B^2 + P^2
H^2 = 60^2 + 80^2
H^2 = 10000
H = 100
So the answer is 100 m.
Question 4: On evening at 4 PM, Seeta and Reema are sitting in a garden facing each other. If Reema’s shadow falls behind her, which direction is Seeta facing?
Solution: If we draw directions according to the given information we get, In the evening the Sun is in the West. Hence, the shadow falls on the East. Since, Reema’s shadow falls behind her. It implies that Reema is facing the West side. As Seeta and Reema are facing each other, So Seeta will face East.
Question 5: In the morning a guy walks X km North, takes left and walks 3 KM, takes left and walks 5 KM, takes left and walks 5 KM and finally takes a right and walks 4 KM. Now his shadows are exactly pointing towards his initial position. What is the value of X?
Solution: If we draw the directions then we get, X = 5 + 4 = 9 KM. Therefore, the correct answer is 4.