The
questions on direction sense typically involve a person moving certain
distances in specified directions. Then, the student is asked to find out the
distance between the initial and the final points. The easiest way of solving
these problems is to draw a diagram as you read the information given in the
problem and ensure that the diagram reflects all the information given in the
problem.
To
solve these types of problems, the student should be aware of the directions.
The student should also recognize the left and right of a person walking in a
particular direction. The following diagram shows all the directions and left
(L) and right (R) of a person walking in that direction and the student should
memorise the diagram.
NOTE :
The distance from a particular point after travelling a
distance of x metres in the horizontal
direction and a distance of y metres in the vertical
direction is equal to 
(Please
note
that in common usage, North South direction is referred
to as "vertical" direction and the East
West direction is referred to as the
"horizontal" direction).
Worked out examples :
Example 1.
A person travels a distance of 7 km towards East from his
house, then travels 7 km towards
North and then a distance of 7 km towards East and
finally 7 km towards North. What is the .
vertical distance traveled by him?
Solution.
Let A and E be the initial and the final positions. The
vertical distance travelled = BC + ED = (7 + .
7) km = 14 km.
Example 2.
A person starts from his house and travels 8 m towards
West then he travels 6 m towards his
left, then 8 m towards West and then 4 m towards South.
Finally, he turns right and travels 5 m. .
What is the horizontal distance traveled by him?
Solution.
Let A and F be the initial and the final positions. .
Horizontal
distance traveled = FE + DC + BA = 5 + 8 + 8 = 21 m.
Example 3.
Surya travels 3 m towards East and then turns right and
travels 4 m. What is the distance .
between the initial and the final positions of Surya?
Solution.
Let A and B the initial and the final positions of Surya.
.
AB = 
= 5
m.
Example 4.
Starting from his house, Sachin walks a distance of 8m
towards North, then he turns left and
walks 6 m, then walks 3 m towards South and finally
travels 6 m towards West, to reach his
office. What is the distance between his house and office
and also find in which direction is his .
office situated with respect to his house.
Solution.
Let A be the Sachin's house and E his office. .
The distance between A and E
= 
= 
= 
= 
= 13m.
His office is towards North – west of his house.
Example 5.
Starting from her house, Nisha traveled 8 m towards West,
then turned right and travelled 15 m. .
She then traveled 20 m towards East, followed by 20 m to
South to reach a hostel. How far is .
her house from the hostel and in which direction?
Solution.
Let A and F be the initial and final positions.
Now AF = 
AE = CD – BA = 20 – 8=12m
EF = DF – DE = DF – CB = 20 – 15 = 5m
AF =
= 
=
13 m
Her
house is towards North – west from the hostel.
