SSC CGL Preparation – Day 5

Reasoning: Direction Sense Test

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📘 What is Direction Sense Test?

Direction Sense Test problems evaluate a person’s ability to trace and analyze directions and distances based on given statements. These questions test spatial orientation and logical deduction.

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🧭 Basic Directions

                North (N)
                   ↑
        West (W) ←   → East (E)
                   ↓
                South (S)

• North-East (NE) = between North & East
• North-West (NW) = between North & West
• South-East (SE) = between South & East
• South-West (SW) = between South & West

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📏 Key Concepts

1. Left Turn & Right Turn:

• Facing North → Left = West, Right = East
• Facing South → Left = East, Right = West
• Facing East → Left = North, Right = South
• Facing West → Left = South, Right = North

2. Distance Formula (Pythagoras Theorem):

If a person moves x meters in one direction and then y meters perpendicular to it:

📐 Shortest Distance = √(x² + y²)

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💡 Shortcut Tricks

• Always draw arrows while solving.
• Keep track of turns logically using cardinal directions.
• If net movement in opposite directions (e.g., East and West), subtract the smaller from the larger to find net displacement.

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🧠 Types of Questions

🔹 Type 1: Simple Direction

Q: A person walks 10 m North, then turns right and walks 10 m. In which direction is he now?
A: East

🔹 Type 2: Final Direction Facing

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

🔹 Type 3: Distance Based

Q: A person walks 3 km North, then 4 km East. What is the shortest distance from the starting point?
A: √(3² + 4²) = 5 km

🔹 Type 4: Displacement + Final Direction

These are complex questions requiring both displacement calculation and final facing direction.

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✍️ Practice Example with Diagram

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

Solution:

• 5 km North →
• 3 km East (right turn)
• 5 km South (right turn again)
  🔁 Now he is 3 km East from starting point.
  ✅ Answer: 3 km away, facing South.

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❗️Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Confusing left/right turns.
• Forgetting to subtract distances when directions oppose.
• Not visualizing with a diagram (always sketch!).

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📌 Quick Summary Table

Movement	Left Turn	Right Turn
Facing North	West	East
Facing South	East	West
Facing East	North	South
Facing West	South	North

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📚 Tips for SSC CGL:

• Questions are usually short & visual – accuracy is crucial.
• Focus on speed + direction tracing.
• Prepare for 2D grid-based puzzles in advanced reasoning.