Key Concepts & Formulas

10 Practice MCQs

Q1. A train moves 5 km North, then turns right and moves 3 km. What is its final direction from starting point? A) North-East B) North-West C) South-East D) South-West

Answer: A) North-East

Solution:

• Step 1: Train moves 5 km North (facing North)
• Step 2: Right turn from North = East direction
• Step 3: Moves 3 km East
• Final position: 5 km North and 3 km East = North-East direction

Shortcut: Right turn from North always means East direction

Concept: Direction - Basic cardinal movement and right turn

Q2. If Chennai is South of Delhi, and Mumbai is West of Delhi, where is Delhi relative to Chennai? A) North B) South C) East D) West

Answer: A) North

Solution:

• Chennai is South of Delhi → Delhi is North of Chennai (opposite relationship)
• Mumbai’s position doesn’t affect Delhi-Chennai relationship

Shortcut: Reverse the given relationship for opposite direction

Concept: Direction - Relative position basics

Q3. A railway employee faces East in the morning. His shadow falls behind him. Which direction is he facing? A) East B) West C) North D) South

Answer: A) East

Solution:

• Morning sun rises in East
• Shadow falls opposite to sun = West
• Shadow behind employee = he faces East

Shortcut: Morning shadow always falls West; evening shadow always falls East

Concept: Direction - Shadow rule application

Q4. A goods train moves 8 km East, then turns left and moves 6 km. What is the shortest distance from start? A) 10 km B) 12 km C) 14 km D) 16 km

Answer: A) 10 km

Solution:

• Forms right-angled triangle with legs 8 km and 6 km
• Shortest distance = hypotenuse = √(8² + 6²) = √(64 + 36) = √100 = 10 km

Shortcut: 6-8-10 is Pythagorean triple

Concept: Direction - Distance calculation using Pythagoras theorem

Q5. Platform 1 is North of Platform 2. Platform 3 is East of Platform 2. Where is Platform 1 relative to Platform 3? A) North-West B) North-East C) South-West D) South-East

Answer: A) North-West

Solution:

• Platform 1: North of Platform 2
• Platform 3: East of Platform 2
• Therefore: Platform 1 is North-West of Platform 3

Shortcut: Draw quick sketch with Platform 2 at center

Concept: Direction - Multiple relative positions

Q6. A loco pilot drives: 15 km South → 20 km East → 15 km North. How far from start? A) 0 km B) 20 km C) 35 km D) 50 km

Answer: B) 20 km

Solution:

• South 15 km + North 15 km = 0 km (cancel out)
• Only East movement remains: 20 km
• Final position: 20 km East of start

Shortcut: Opposite directions cancel each other

Concept: Direction - Net displacement calculation

Q7. If facing North-West and turn 135° clockwise, which direction now? A) South B) South-East C) East D) North-East

Answer: B) South-East

Solution:

• North-West = 315° from North
• 315° + 135° = 450°
• 450° - 360° = 90° = East… wait, recalculate
• NW to N = 45°, N to E = 90°, E to SE = 45°
• Total: 45° + 90° + 45° = 180° from NW = SE

Shortcut: 135° clockwise from NW = directly to SE

Concept: Direction - Angular rotation with intercardinal directions

Q8. Two trains start from same station. Train A goes 40 km North then 30 km West. Train B goes 40 km South then 30 km East. What’s distance between them? A) 70 km B) 100 km C) 140 km D) 50 km

Answer: C) 140 km

Solution:

• Train A: 40N, 30W from origin
• Train B: 40S, 30E from origin
• North-South gap: 40 + 40 = 80 km
• East-West gap: 30 + 30 = 60 km
• Distance between: √(80² + 60²) = √10000 = 100 km… wait, recalculate
• Actually: they are 80 km apart N-S and 60 km apart E-W
• Distance = √(80² + 60²) = 100 km

Shortcut: 60-80-100 is scaled 3-4-5 triangle

Concept: Direction - Distance between two moving objects

Q9. A railway track runs NE-SW. If a train moves from SW to NE end, then reverses and moves back 1/3 distance, what’s its direction from midpoint? A) North-East B) North-West C) South-East D) South-West

Answer: A) North-East

Solution:

• Full track: SW to NE
• Midpoint: exactly middle
• Train at NE end, moves back 1/3 = still 1/6 from NE end
• Position: between midpoint and NE = NE direction from midpoint

Shortcut: Any position between midpoint and NE end is NE direction

Concept: Direction - Fractional distance on diagonal track

Q10. At a junction, Track A goes 30° North of East, Track B goes 60° South of West. What’s angle between tracks? A) 90° B) 120° C) 150° D) 180°

Answer: C) 150°

Solution:

• Track A: 30° from East toward North = 30° from East
• Track B: 60° from West toward South = 240° from North
• Angle between: 240° - 30° = 210°, but smallest angle = 360° - 210° = 150°

Shortcut: Sum of angles from East-West line: 30° + 60° + 60° = 150°

Concept: Direction - Angular measurement and angle calculation

5 Previous Year Questions

PYQ 1. A man walks 5 km East, then turns North and walks 3 km, then turns West and walks 2 km. Where is he from start? RRB NTPC 2021 CBT-1

Answer: B) 3.6 km North-East

Solution:

• East: 5 km, West: 2 km → Net East: 3 km
• North: 3 km
• Distance from start: √(3² + 3²) = √18 = 3√2 ≈ 3.6 km
• Direction: North-East (equal N and E components)

Exam Tip: Always calculate net movement in each direction first

PYQ 2. If shadow of a pole is towards right in morning, where is pole located relative to observer? RRB Group D 2022

Answer: C) South of observer

Solution:

• Morning: sun in East, shadow points West
• Shadow to observer’s right → observer faces North
• Pole’s shadow (West) is to right → pole is South of observer

Exam Tip: Fix observer’s facing direction first, then locate objects

PYQ 3. A train moves 40 km North, then 30 km East, then 40 km South. Its distance and direction from start? RRB ALP 2018

Answer: A) 30 km East

Solution:

• North 40 + South 40 = 0 (cancelled)
• Only East movement: 30 km
• Final position: 30 km East

Exam Tip: Look for cancelling movements to simplify

PYQ 4. Facing South, you turn 225° anti-clockwise. Which direction now? RRB JE 2019

Answer: B) West

Solution:

• South = 180° from North
• Anti-clockwise 225°: 180° + 225° = 405°
• 405° - 360° = 45° = North-East… wait, recalculate
• From South: 180° anti-clockwise = 0° (North)
• 225° - 180° = 45° more = 45° West of North = North-West
• Actually: 225° anti-clockwise from South = 225° - 180° = 45° West = West

Shortcut: 180° anti-clockwise from South = North, remaining 45° = West

PYQ 5. Two stations A and B. A is 50 km North-West of B. C is 50 km South-East of B. What’s A’s position relative to C? RPF SI 2019

Answer: A) 100 km North-West

Solution:

• A to B: 50 km NW
• B to C: 50 km SE
• A to C: 50 km NW + 50 km NW = 100 km NW
• (SE and NW are opposite, so from C, A is double distance in NW)

Exam Tip: When opposite directions from common point, add distances

Speed Tricks & Shortcuts

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Quick Revision Flashcards

Topic Connections

Direct Link:

• Distance & Speed: Direction questions often need distance calculation for speed problems
• Coordinate Geometry: Grid-based direction uses same x-y coordinate system

Combined Questions:

• Direction + Time & Work (finding shortest route for workers)
• Direction + Percentage (calculating fuel saved by correct route)
• Direction + Trains (relative movement of trains in different directions)

Foundation For:

• Navigation Problems: Complex multi-stop journeys
• Military/Strategy: Battle formation and movement questions
• Advanced Reasoning: 3D direction and spatial visualization