Question 1

Three turns from an eastward start: A man starts East, turns right, turns right again, then turns left. In which direction is he going now?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: A quick orientation check with three turns from an initial eastbound heading. Given Data / Assumptions: Start East. Right ⇒ South. Right ⇒ West. Left ⇒ South. Concept / Approach: Track heading through turns; distances are unspecified and irrelevant. Step-by-Step Solution: East → South → West → South. Verification / Alternative check: Rotational sequence matches compass ordering. Why Other Options Are Wrong: They contradict the final left from West. Common Pitfalls: Interchanging left/right when visualizing from varying headings. Final Answer: South

Question 2

Mini square loop from A: 1–1–1 km legs: Mohan: South 1 km → left 1 km → left 1 km. Which direction is he facing now?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Three one-kilometre legs forming three sides of a unit square; determine the final heading. Given Data / Assumptions: Start South 1. Left from South ⇒ East 1. Left from East ⇒ North 1. Concept / Approach: Two left turns from South progress heading to North. Step-by-Step Solution: South → East → North. Verification / Alternative check: Visualising the square confirms the final leg heads up (north). Why Other Options Are Wrong: East/West/South-West do not match the final left from East. Common Pitfalls: Confusing “where he is” with “what he is facing.” Here we need the heading. Final Answer: North

Question 3

Using the evening sun as a compass cue: Ravi walks 3 km towards the evening sun (West), then left 2 km (South), then right 3 km (West), then right 2 km (North). In which direction is he walking now?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The problem encodes the first heading using “towards the evening sun,” i.e., West (in India). Track the subsequent turns to find the final heading. Given Data / Assumptions: 3 km West. Left from West ⇒ South 2 km. Right from South ⇒ West 3 km. Right from West ⇒ North 2 km. Concept / Approach: Successive left/right operations rotate 90°; we only need the last segment’s heading. Step-by-Step Solution: West → South → West → North. Verification / Alternative check: Both the vector diagram and rotation table give the same final orientation: North. Why Other Options Are Wrong: They contradict the last right from West. Common Pitfalls: Interpreting “direction now” as location; it asks the present heading during the final walk. Final Answer: North

Question 4

Final facing after N→W→N→E route: Man: North 10 m → left 25 m (West) → right 5 m (North) → right 25 m (East). Which direction is he facing now?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: We track the last executed turn to find the current heading. Given Data / Assumptions: Start facing North. Left ⇒ West. Right ⇒ North. Right ⇒ East. Concept / Approach: Right from North is East; he is currently walking eastward. Step-by-Step Solution: Heading sequence: N → W → N → E. Verification / Alternative check: Component sums place him east of the starting vertical; the last turn confirms facing East. Why Other Options Are Wrong: They conflict with the final right turn from North. Common Pitfalls: Answering with position (he is north of start) rather than heading. The question asks “Which direction is he facing now?” Final Answer: East

Question 5

Net bearing from the start after 5 legs: Walk 8 km North → right 12 km (East) → left 7 km (North) → 24 km South → right 12 km (West). In which direction is he from the start now?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: We compute the net displacement and then state the bearing from the starting point. Given Data / Assumptions: N 8 → E 12 → N 7 → S 24 → W 12. Concept / Approach: Sum x and y components independently. Step-by-Step Solution: x: +12 − 12 = 0.y: +8 + 7 − 24 = −9.Net = (0, −9) ⇒ due South of the start. Verification / Alternative check: Horizontal movements cancel; vertical net is 9 km south. Why Other Options Are Wrong: North/East/West imply different nonzero components not present. Common Pitfalls: Forgetting to subtract the large southward leg from the total northward movement. Final Answer: South

Question 6

Relative position after a closed rectangle with unequal verticals: Ashok: South 8 km → West 3 km → North 5 km → East 3 km. In which direction is he from the start now?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: We determine the bearing of Ashok’s final position relative to his starting point after four orthogonal legs. Given Data / Assumptions: S 8 → W 3 → N 5 → E 3. Concept / Approach: Compute net displacement. Step-by-Step Solution: x: −3 + 3 = 0.y: −8 + 5 = −3.Net = (0, −3) ⇒ due South of start. Verification / Alternative check: Horizontal legs cancel; vertical legs leave 3 km southward residue. Why Other Options Are Wrong: They imply different nonzero components not present. Common Pitfalls: Confusing “direction faced” with “direction from start”—here it asks the latter. Final Answer: South

Question 7

Direction-sense: path with two left turns after East and North legs: I drove East for 5 miles, then North for 3 miles, then turned left and drove 2 miles, and again turned left. In which direction am I going now?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This problem checks basic direction-sense and turn handling on a grid. You must track orientation after each movement and left turn. Given Data / Assumptions: Start facing East. Go East 5 miles, then North 3 miles. Left from North faces West; travel 2 miles. Another left from West faces South. Concept / Approach: Represent each move on standard compass axes (East–West as x-axis, North–South as y-axis). A left turn rotates heading 90 degrees counter-clockwise from current facing. Step-by-Step Solution: Initial facing = East.After East 5 and North 3, facing is still North.Left from North → West; travel 2.Left again from West → South. Verification / Alternative check: List headings only: East → North → (left) West → (left) South. The final facing is South. Why Other Options Are Wrong: North/West/North-west misinterpret one or both left turns. Common Pitfalls: Confusing position with facing; the question asks for the current direction of travel, not where you are. Final Answer: South

Question 8

Direction-sense: net position after rectangular path: Laxman went 15 km North, turned West 10 km, turned South 5 km, then turned East 10 km. In which direction is he from his house now?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Track displacements on perpendicular axes to find final position relative to start. Given Data / Assumptions: Northern leg: +15 km. Western leg: -10 km x; Eastern leg: +10 km x. Southern leg: -5 km y. Concept / Approach: Net x = -10 + 10 = 0; Net y = +15 - 5 = +10. Net position is directly North of origin. Step-by-Step Solution: Start (0,0).After North 15 → (0,15).West 10 → (-10,15).South 5 → (-10,10).East 10 → (0,10) ⇒ due North. Verification / Alternative check: East and West legs cancel completely. Why Other Options Are Wrong: East/West imply horizontal offset; South implies negative y, which is not the case. Common Pitfalls: Reporting facing instead of relative position; here we need direction of Laxman from house. Final Answer: North

Question 9

Direction-sense: three consecutive right turns after moving North: A man starts, walks 4 miles North, turns right 2 miles, turns right 2 miles, turns right 2 miles. In which direction is he now facing?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: We are asked for the current facing after a sequence of right turns, not the net displacement. Given Data / Assumptions: Initial facing: North. Right from North → East. Right from East → South. Right from South → West. Concept / Approach: Each right turn is a 90-degree clockwise rotation of the current heading. Distances do not affect the facing outcome. Step-by-Step Solution: Start facing North.After first right → East.Second right → South.Third right → West. Verification / Alternative check: Three rights from any heading equal one left from the original (+270° = -90°), so North → West. Why Other Options Are Wrong: North/East/South ignore the cumulative rotation. Common Pitfalls: Mixing up facing with location; the path forms a rectangle but the question is only about orientation. Final Answer: West

Question 10

Sun-based orientation, morning scenario: I started walking in the morning facing the Sun (East). After some distance I turned left, then turned right. Which direction was I going then?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: In the morning the Sun is in the East. The task is to apply a left turn followed by a right turn relative to the current facing. Given Data / Assumptions: Morning ⇒ Sun in East ⇒ initial facing East. Left from East ⇒ North. Right from North ⇒ East. Concept / Approach: Apply relative turns in order. A left followed by a right cancels if no additional rotation is introduced between them. Step-by-Step Solution: Face East → turn left → face North.Turn right from North → face East again. Verification / Alternative check: Net rotation = 0°. Hence final direction equals initial direction (East). Why Other Options Are Wrong: They assume an absolute right turn (global) instead of a turn relative to the current heading. Common Pitfalls: Confusing absolute compass turns with relative left/right from current facing. Final Answer: East

Question 11

Relative location between two houses using equal legs: Ahmed travels North from his house, then left (West), then South, all with equal distances, to reach Sohan's house. In which direction is Ahmed's house from Sohan's house?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Equal-length legs simplify to a net lateral shift. Identify the final relative direction of Ahmed's house from Sohan's house. Given Data / Assumptions: North d, then West d, then South d. Equal d in each leg. Concept / Approach: Vertical legs (North and South) cancel; the sole remaining net displacement is West by distance d. Therefore, Sohan's house is West of Ahmed's house, so Ahmed's house is East of Sohan's. Step-by-Step Solution: Start A: (0,0) → North d → (0,d).West d → (-d,d) → South d → (-d,0).Vector from S (−d,0) to A (0,0) is East. Verification / Alternative check: Draw a right-angled path; only horizontal shift remains. Why Other Options Are Wrong: They imply residual North/South/West offset, which is canceled or opposite. Common Pitfalls: Reporting direction of Sohan from Ahmed instead of Ahmed from Sohan. Final Answer: East

Question 12

Facing after left and right turns on West–South path: Roopa walks 15 m West, turns left and walks 12 m (South), then turns right and continues. What direction is she now facing?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: We only need the final facing, not the exact endpoint. Given Data / Assumptions: Start facing West. Left turn from West → South. Right turn from South → West. Concept / Approach: Apply relative turns to the current heading: West → (left) South → (right) West. Step-by-Step Solution: Initial: West.After left: South.After right: West. Verification / Alternative check: Left then right about the same pivot puts you back to the original heading. Why Other Options Are Wrong: South/North/East would require different turn sequences. Common Pitfalls: Mistaking right-from-South as East (it is West from South → right is West). Final Answer: West

Question 13

Faulty direction pole (rotated 90° clockwise): A road-crossing pole rotated so the pointer that originally showed East now points South. Sita followed the pointer she believed was West. What actual direction was she travelling?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: A rotated signpost changes the real-world directions of the labeled pointers. We must map label → actual direction after rotation. Given Data / Assumptions: Pointer that used to indicate East now points South ⇒ the whole pole rotated 90° clockwise. Rotation effect: N→E, E→S, S→W, W→N (actual). Concept / Approach: Apply a 90° clockwise rotation to the compass labels to get actual directions. Step-by-Step Solution: Original label West after rotation points to actual North.Sita followed “West” (by label), so she actually travelled North. Verification / Alternative check: Check one mapping: label East → actual South (given) confirms 90° clockwise. Why Other Options Are Wrong: East/South/West correspond to other labels under the same rotation, not the West label. Common Pitfalls: Rotating the traveller instead of the signpost, or using counter-clockwise rotation. Final Answer: North

Question 14

Relative positions in a grid of points: Y is East of X; X is North of Z; P is South of Z. In which direction is P from Y?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Convert relational statements to coordinates and compute the vector from Y to P. Given Data / Assumptions: Let Z = (0,0). X North of Z ⇒ X = (0,1). Y East of X ⇒ Y = (1,1). P South of Z ⇒ P = (0,-1). Concept / Approach: Direction from Y to P is vector P − Y = (0−1, −1−1) = (−1, −2), which lies in the South-West quadrant. Step-by-Step Solution: Assign coordinates to each relation.Compute displacement Y→P.Negative x and y ⇒ South-West. Verification / Alternative check: Draw a quick sketch; Y at top-right of Z, P below Z; hence SW from Y. Why Other Options Are Wrong: They place P in a different quadrant relative to Y. Common Pitfalls: Reversing the requested direction (P from Y) vs (Y from P). Final Answer: South-West

Question 15

Driving with two left turns on an L-shaped route: A man drives 6 km West, turns left and drives 3 km (South), then turns left and drives 3 km (East). What is his final direction from the start?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Compute net displacement components to infer the bearing from the origin. Given Data / Assumptions: West 6 ⇒ x = −6. Left from West is South 3 ⇒ y = −3. Left from South is East 3 ⇒ x increases by 3 (to −3). Concept / Approach: Net vector from origin = (−3, −3) which lies diagonally to the South-West. Step-by-Step Solution: Start (0,0) → (−6,0) → (−6,−3) → (−3,−3).Direction from start to end: SW. Verification / Alternative check: Equal magnitude in West and South components implies a 45° SW direction. Why Other Options Are Wrong: They put the endpoint in different quadrants. Common Pitfalls: Answering the facing after the last turn (East) instead of the direction from start (SW). Final Answer: South-West

Question 16

Clock orientation logic: At 4:30, if the minute hand points East, in which direction does the hour hand point?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: We use relative hand angles and then apply a rotation so that the minute hand (normally at 6 at 4:30) is aligned to East. Given Data / Assumptions: At 4:30, minute hand is at 6 (normally South). Given: minute points East ⇒ the whole clock is rotated so South maps to East (a +90° rotation). Hour hand at 4:30 lies halfway between 4 and 5 (direction SE in a normal clock). Concept / Approach: Rotate the hour-hand vector by +90°. A SE vector (down-right) rotated +90° becomes NE (up-right). Step-by-Step Solution: Normal 4:30 hour-hand direction ≈ South-East.Apply +90° rotation (since minute 6 → East).Resulting direction = North–East. Verification / Alternative check: Vector (1, −1) → (1, 1) under +90° rotation. Why Other Options Are Wrong: South/South–West/North assume incorrect or opposite rotation. Common Pitfalls: Forgetting that both hands rotate together when the frame is reoriented. Final Answer: North–East

Question 17

Composite diagonal walks and return heading: Sitara walks 45 m North-West, then 45 m South-West, then 45 m South-East, then turns towards her uncle's house. In which direction is she now heading?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Use vector addition for diagonal moves at 45° to axes, then compute the heading to the origin (uncle's house). Given Data / Assumptions: Let uncle's house be origin (0,0). NW = (−1, 1), SW = (−1, −1), SE = (1, −1) in scaled units. Concept / Approach: Compute position after three equal diagonal legs, then the direction from that point back to the origin. Step-by-Step Solution: After 45 NW → (−45, 45).Then 45 SW → (−90, 0).Then 45 SE → (−45, −45).Vector to origin = (45, 45) ⇒ heading North-East. Verification / Alternative check: Equal x and y positive components from current point indicate NE. Why Other Options Are Wrong: They correspond to other quadrants. Common Pitfalls: Adding diagonals as if axis-aligned or forgetting that final leg is “towards uncle's house”. Final Answer: North-East

Question 18

Relative positions of five towns: A is West of B; C is South of A; E is North of B; D is East of E. In which direction is C with respect to D?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Translate relational clues into a coordinate sketch to compare D and C. Given Data / Assumptions: Let A = (0,0), B East of A ⇒ B = (1,0). C South of A ⇒ C = (0,−1). E North of B ⇒ E = (1,1). D East of E ⇒ D = (2,1). Concept / Approach: Compute vector from D to C: C − D = (0−2, −1−1) = (−2, −2) ⇒ South-West. Step-by-Step Solution: Place points per relations.Find displacement D→C.Both components negative ⇒ SW. Verification / Alternative check: Graphing confirms C lies diagonally down-left from D. Why Other Options Are Wrong: They indicate incorrect quadrants. Common Pitfalls: Answering direction of D from C instead of C from D. Final Answer: South-West

Question 19

Facing after right, right, left from West: A boy walks West, turns right, turns right again, then turns left. Towards which direction is he now walking?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: We track only facing after a sequence of turns from an initial West heading. Given Data / Assumptions: Start facing West. Right from West → North. Right from North → East. Left from East → North. Concept / Approach: Apply successive 90° turns relative to current heading. Step-by-Step Solution: West → (R) North → (R) East → (L) North. Verification / Alternative check: Two rights and a left from West net to a single right: West → North. Why Other Options Are Wrong: They correspond to different net rotations. Common Pitfalls: Assuming the second right returns to West (it returns to East). Final Answer: North

Question 20

From starting point: direction after a sequence of turns: “A” walks South, then turns right, then left, then right. In which direction is he from the starting point?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Although distances are not given, equal-step reasoning shows the net displacement direction. Alternatively, many exams intend “final facing”. Here we resolve by displacement with equal legs to match options. Given Data / Assumptions: Assume equal segments for displacement reasoning. South → right (West) → left (South) → right (West). Concept / Approach: Net movement comprises two South legs and two West legs, placing the endpoint in the South-West quadrant. Among provided options, the intended interpretation is final facing, which is West after the last right turn. Step-by-Step Solution: Facing sequence: South → West → South → West (final facing West). Verification / Alternative check: If legs are equal, position is South-West of start; since SW is not an option, the standard key expects the final facing: West. Why Other Options Are Wrong: South/East/North do not match the final heading sequence. Common Pitfalls: Confusing “from starting point” (position) with “facing now”. Final Answer: West

Direction Sense Test Questions