📑 Topics on this page (Jump to Topic):
📌 1. Directions & Turns
| Facing | Right turn (90°) | Left turn (90°) |
|---|---|---|
| North | East | West |
| East | South | North |
| South | West | East |
| West | North | South |
- Right turn = clockwise 90°; left turn = anticlockwise 90°.
- Intermediate: NE, SE, SW, NW — 45° between two main directions.
- Two right (or two left) turns make you face the opposite direction.
📌 2. Shortest Distance
- Add the net east-west and net north-south movement separately (subtract opposite directions).
- Shortest distance = √(x² + y²). Triplets: (3,4,5), (6,8,10), (5,12,13), (8,15,17), (7,24,25).
⚠️ Exam Traps:
- When asked 'in which direction', give the direction of the end point from the start, not the reverse.
- Answer is NE only when both x and y are non-zero; if one is zero, it is a straight direction.
📌 3. Sun & Shadow
- Morning: Sun in the east → shadow falls west.
- Evening: Sun in the west → shadow falls east.
- At 12 noon (in India) the shadow is minimal / towards north.
💡 Memory Tip: In the morning a man sees his shadow on his left → shadow west, left is west → he faces north.
📌 4. Practice MCQs
📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. Rahul faces north. He turns right, then right again, then left. Which direction does he face now? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
North → right East → right South → left East.
North → right East → right South → left East.
Q2. A man walks 3 km east, then 4 km north. Shortest distance from the start? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
√(3² + 4²) = √25 = 5 km.
√(3² + 4²) = √25 = 5 km.
Q3. In the morning, a man's shadow falls exactly behind him. Which direction is he facing? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Morning shadow is west; it is behind him, so he faces east.
Morning shadow is west; it is behind him, so he faces east.
Q4. A walks 10 m south, turns left and walks 6 m, then turns left and walks 10 m. How far and in which direction is he from the start? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
South 10, left (East) 6, left (North) 10 — north-south cancels; net 6 m East.
South 10, left (East) 6, left (North) 10 — north-south cancels; net 6 m East.
Q5. If south-east is called north and north-east is called west, what is west called? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
SE→N means every direction turned 135° anticlockwise. West turned 135° anticlockwise = South-East.
SE→N means every direction turned 135° anticlockwise. West turned 135° anticlockwise = South-East.
Q6. A man walks 6 km west, then 8 km south. His distance from the start? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
√(6² + 8²) = √100 = 10 km.
√(6² + 8²) = √100 = 10 km.
Q7. A man facing west turns 90° clockwise and then 180° anticlockwise. Which way does he face? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
West → 90° clockwise = North → 180° = South.
West → 90° clockwise = North → 180° = South.
Q8. In the evening Sita and Gita stand face to face. Sita's shadow falls exactly to Gita's right. Which way does Sita face? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Evening shadow is east. Gita's right = east ⇒ Gita faces north, so Sita, facing her, faces south.
Evening shadow is east. Gita's right = east ⇒ Gita faces north, so Sita, facing her, faces south.
Q9. A man walks 5 km north, 3 km east, then 5 km south. In which direction is he from the start? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
North and south cancel; net 3 km east.
North and south cancel; net 3 km east.
Q10. A man walks 4 m north, turns right and walks 3 m, then turns right and walks 8 m. How far is he from the start? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
North 4, East 3, South 8 → net 4 m south, 3 m east; √(16+9) = 5 m.
North 4, East 3, South 8 → net 4 m south, 3 m east; √(16+9) = 5 m.
Q11. Which direction is exactly opposite to north-east? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
180° from NE = SW.
180° from NE = SW.
Q12. On a clock, the hour hand points east at 3 o'clock. Where does it point at 9 o'clock? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
3 points east ⇒ 12 is north, 9 is west.
3 points east ⇒ 12 is north, 9 is west.
Q13. At 7 a.m. a man walks with his back to the Sun. Which direction is he walking? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Morning Sun is in the east; back to the east ⇒ walking west.
Morning Sun is in the east; back to the east ⇒ walking west.
Q14. A is 10 m north of B. C is 10 m east of B. In which direction is A from C? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
From C, B is west and A is north of B ⇒ A is north-west of C.
From C, B is west and A is north of B ⇒ A is north-west of C.
Q15. A man walks 8 km east, 6 km north, then 8 km west. Where is he now from the start? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
East and west cancel; net 6 km north.
East and west cancel; net 6 km north.
Q16. A man facing south turns left three times in a row. Which way does he face? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
South → East → North → West (three lefts = one right).
South → East → North → West (three lefts = one right).
Q17. A man walks 12 m south, then 5 m east. Shortest distance from the start? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
√(12² + 5²) = √169 = 13 m.
√(12² + 5²) = √169 = 13 m.
Q18. P is east of Q. R is south of Q. S is east of R and exactly south of P. In which direction is Q from S? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Q, P, S, R form a rectangle; Q is top-left of S, i.e. north-west.
Q, P, S, R form a rectangle; Q is top-left of S, i.e. north-west.
Q19. In the evening a man's shadow falls on his left. Which way is he facing? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Evening shadow is east; left is east when facing south.
Evening shadow is east; left is east when facing south.
Q20. A man walks 2 km north, 2 km east, 2 km north and 2 km east. In which direction is he from the start? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Net 4 km north and 4 km east ⇒ north-east (distance 4√2 km).
Net 4 km north and 4 km east ⇒ north-east (distance 4√2 km).