Reasoning Direction Sense Tricks
Direction Sense – 30-Minute Revision Sheet for RRB
Key Concepts
- 8 Directions: N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW
- Left / Right: Always assume you are facing North unless the question says otherwise.
- Clockwise: Right turn; Anti-clockwise: Left turn.
- Shadow:
- Morning (sunrise) → shadow West
- Evening (sunset) → shadow East
- 12 noon → no shadow
- Pythagoras: shortest distance = √(x² + y²)
| Situation |
Rule / Formula |
| Net North-South displacement |
Σ North – Σ South |
| Net East-West displacement |
Σ East – Σ West |
| Straight-line distance back to start |
√(Net N-S² + Net E-W²) |
| Right angle turn |
90°; U-turn = 180° |
Tricks & Shortcuts
- Paper-fold trick: Draw 5 cm square grid; each move = 1 square → count squares, not angles.
- Sign convention:
- N/E → +
- S/W → –
- Put in (x, y) form → final position (x, y); distance = √(x² + y²).
- Clock memory:
- 3 o’clock → E; 6 → S; 9 → W; 12 → N.
- Shadow mnemonic:
- Morning → Moves West (M&W).
- Opposite directions:
- N ↔ S, E ↔ W, NE ↔ SW, SE ↔ NW.
Common Exam Q&A
Q1. A man goes 4 km East, then 3 km North. How far is he from start?
√(4²+3²)=5 kmQ2. If South-East becomes North, then what will West become?
South-East → turned 135° clockwise; apply same to West → **North-East**Q3. Morning shadow falls to the right of X. Which direction is X facing?
Morning shadow → West; shadow on **right** ⇒ X faces **South**Q4. After 20 m right, 30 m left, 60 m right, 10 m left, facing starts. Displacement?
Net E-W: +20-30+60-10 = +40 m East; Net N-S: 0. Distance = 40 mQuick Facts Table
| Clock turn |
New direction (started facing N) |
| 90° right |
E |
| 135° right |
SE |
| 180° |
S |
| 225° right |
SW |
| 270° right |
W |
One-Liner Memory Aids
- Never Eat Soggy Waffles — order of directions clockwise.
- Left = Letter L (makes 90° anti-clock).
BETA
