Pariksha SaathiReasoning
Direction Sense: Practice Questions with Answers
38 practice questions on Direction Sense, with answers; most also have an explanation or a worked solution. Try each one before you open its answer.
Read the lesson on this topic →
-
Q.1
P starts from his house and walks 10 km South. He then turns left and walks 10 km. He turns left again and walks 5 km. He turns left once more and walks 10 km. How far is he from his house, and in which direction?
Show answer
Answer: 5 km due South of his house
Solution:
- Track facing direction through each left turn: South → (left) → East → (left) → North → (left) → West.
- Plot each leg (East = +x, North = +y): 10 km South → (0, −10). 10 km East → (10, −10). 5 km North → (10, −5). 10 km West → (0, −5).
- Final position (0, −5) relative to the house means he is 5 km away, directly South of it.
-
Q.2
A man walks 6 km North, then 8 km East, then 6 km South. Find (a) the total distance he walked, and (b) his straight-line distance from the starting point.
Show answer
Answer: (a) 20 km total walked, (b) 8 km straight-line distance
Solution:
- (a) Total distance walked is just the sum of every leg: 6 + 8 + 6 = 20 km.
- (b) For straight-line distance, use NET displacement: North-South nets to 6 − 6 = 0; East-West nets to 8.
- Straight-line distance = √(0² + 8²) = 8 km.
-
Q.3
A man walks 5 km towards North, then turns right and walks 3 km. Which direction is he facing now, and how far is he from his starting point?
Show answer
Answer: Facing East, about 5.8 km (√34 km) from the start
Solution:
- Facing North and turning right means he is now facing East.
- He has walked 5 km along the North-South axis and 3 km along the East-West axis — these are perpendicular, so distance from start = √(5² + 3²) = √34 ≈ 5.8 km.
-
Q.4
Raj walks 8 km East, then turns left and walks 6 km. How far is he from his starting point?
Show answer
Answer: 10 km
Solution:
- Facing East and turning left means he is now facing North.
- He has walked 8 km East and 6 km North — perpendicular legs, so distance = √(8² + 6²) = √100 = 10 km.
-
Q.5
A man is facing West. He turns 90° clockwise and walks 5 km, then turns 90° clockwise again and walks 5 km. Find his distance and direction from the starting point.
Show answer
Answer: 5√2 km ≈ 7.07 km, North-East of the start
Solution:
- Facing West, a 90° clockwise turn brings him to face North (clockwise order: N→E→S→W→N, so after W comes N). He walks 5 km North: position (0, 5).
- Another 90° clockwise turn from North brings him to face East. He walks 5 km East: position (5, 5).
- Distance from start = √(5² + 5²) = √50 = 5√2 ≈ 7.07 km. Since the East and North components are equal, the direction is North-East.
-
Q.6
A woman starts from point A and walks 4 km North, then 3 km East, then 4 km South. How far, and in which direction, is she from point A now?
Show answer
Answer: 3 km due East of A
Solution:
- Track net displacement on each axis: North-South = +4 (North) then −4 (South) = 0 net. East-West = +3 (East).
- The North and South legs cancel out exactly, leaving only the 3 km East.
-
Q.7
In the morning, a man's shadow falls exactly to his right. Which direction is he facing?
Show answer
Answer: South
Solution:
- In the morning, the sun is in the East, so shadows fall towards the West.
- His shadow (West) is to his right, so his right hand points West. Checking each facing direction: facing South, your right hand points West.
-
Q.8
A man is facing South. He turns 90° anticlockwise and walks 6 km, then turns 90° anticlockwise again and walks 6 km. Find his distance and direction from the start.
Show answer
Answer: 6√2 km ≈ 8.49 km, North-East. (South → East → North, giving position (6,6).)
-
Q.9
In the morning, a man's shadow falls exactly to his left. Which direction is he facing?
Show answer
Answer: North. Morning shadows fall West; facing North, your left hand points West.
-
Q.10
A man walks 5 km West, then turns left and walks 4 km. How far is he from his starting point (to one decimal place)?
-
Q.11
A man walks 9 km East, then 12 km North, then 9 km West. Find (a) the total distance walked, and (b) his straight-line distance from the start.
-
Q.12
A man walks 7 km South, then turns right and walks 7 km. How far is he from the start, and in which direction?
Show answer
Answer: 7√2 km ≈ 9.9 km, South-West. (South → West, giving position (−7,−7).)
-
Q.13
One morning, a man's shadow fell exactly to his left as he stood facing a wall. Which direction was he facing?
- A North
- B South
- C East
- D West
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) North
In the morning, the sun rises in the East, so a shadow is cast towards the West. If that shadow (pointing West) falls on the man's LEFT side, he must be facing North — facing North, a person's left hand points West.
-
Q.14
A man starts from point P and walks 6 km East, then turns and walks 4 km South, then turns and walks 3 km West, reaching point Q. What is the straight-line distance between P and Q?
- A 5 km
- B 2 km
- C 7 km
- D 8 km
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) 5 km
Tracking coordinates: final position is (3, -4) relative to start. Straight-line distance = √(3²+-4²) = √25 = 5 km.
-
Q.15
P starts walking 7 km North, then turns right and walks 24 km, then turns right again and walks 7 km, then turns left and walks 10 km. How far is he from his starting point, and in which direction?
- A 34 km, due East
- B 34 km, due West
- C 41 km, due East
- D 24 km, due North
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) 34 km, due East
The 7 km North and 7 km South legs cancel exactly; in the East-West direction, 24 km + 10 km = 34 km East remains.
-
Q.16
A man walks 8 km North, then turns left and walks 8 km, then turns left again and walks 4 km, then turns left once more and walks 8 km. How far is he from his starting point, and in which direction?
- A 4 km due North
- B 4 km due South
- C 8 km due North
- D 0 km (back at start)
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) 4 km due North
Plotting the path: (0,0) -> (0,8) North -> (-8,8) turning left (West) -> (-8,4) turning left (South) -> (0,4) turning left (East). This is 4 km due North of the start.
-
Q.17
A man is facing East. He turns 90 degrees anticlockwise, then 90 degrees clockwise, then 180 degrees clockwise. Which direction is he facing now?
- A West
- B East
- C North
- D South
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) West
East -> 90 degrees anticlockwise -> North -> 90 degrees clockwise -> East -> 180 degrees clockwise -> West.
-
Q.18
A man is facing North. He turns 90° clockwise, then 180°, then 90° anticlockwise. Which direction is he facing now?
- A South
- B North
- C East
- D West
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) South
Starting at North: 90° clockwise -> East. 180° -> West. 90° anticlockwise -> South.
-
Q.19
A man starts from point P and walks 6 km South, then turns and walks 5 km West, then turns and walks 6 km North, reaching point Q. What is the straight-line distance between P and Q?
- A 5 km
- B 2 km
- C 7 km
- D 11 km
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) 5 km
Tracking coordinates: final position is (-5, 0) relative to start. Straight-line distance = √(-5²+0²) = √25 = 5 km.
-
Q.20
Q starts walking 6 km East, then turns left and walks 9 km, then turns left again and walks 6 km, then turns left once more and walks 9 km. Where is he now relative to his starting point?
- A He is back at his starting point
- B 9 km North of his starting point
- C 6 km East of his starting point
- D 15 km East of his starting point
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) He is back at his starting point
Three consecutive left turns from East trace a complete rectangle (East 6, North 9, West 6, South 9), which cancels out entirely and returns him to the start.
-
Q.21
X walks 5 km North, then turns right and walks 12 km, then turns right again and walks 5 km, then turns right once more and walks 20 km, reaching Y. In which direction is Y from X, and how far?
- A West, 8 km
- B East, 8 km
- C North, 8 km
- D West, 28 km
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) West, 8 km
The 5 km North and 5 km South legs cancel; of the East/West legs, 20 km West exceeds 12 km East by 8 km, leaving Y exactly 8 km West of X.
-
Q.22
X walks 9 km North, then turns right and walks 40 km, then turns right again and walks 9 km, then turns right once more and walks 20 km, reaching Y. In which direction is Y from X, and how far?
- A East, 20 km
- B West, 20 km
- C East, 29 km
- D North, 20 km
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) East, 20 km
The 9 km North and 9 km South legs cancel; of the East/West legs, 40 km East exceeds 20 km West by 20 km, leaving Y exactly 20 km East of X.
-
Q.23
A man is facing North. He turns left, then turns right, then turns left, then turns right, then turns left. Which direction is he facing now?
- A West
- B East
- C North
- D South
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) West
North -> left -> West -> right -> North -> left -> West -> right -> North -> left -> West.
-
Q.24
A man is facing South. He turns 90 degrees clockwise, then 90 degrees anticlockwise, then 90 degrees anticlockwise again. Which direction is he facing now?
- A East
- B West
- C North
- D South
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) East
South -> 90 degrees clockwise -> West -> 90 degrees anticlockwise -> South -> 90 degrees anticlockwise -> East.
-
Q.25
A woman starts from point A and walks 4 km North, then 3 km East, then 4 km South. How far, and in which direction, is she from point A now?
- A 3 km due East
- B 11 km due North
- C 4 km due South
- D 7 km due East
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) 3 km due East
The North (+4) and South (−4) legs cancel exactly, leaving only the 3 km East leg.
-
Q.26
A girl walks 4 km East, turns right, walks 4 km, turns right again, and walks 4 km. How far is she from her starting point, and in which direction?
- A 4 km due South
- B 12 km due East
- C 4 km due North
- D 8 km due South
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) 4 km due South
East -> right -> South -> right -> West. Plotting (East=+x, North=+y): (4,0) -> (4,-4) -> (0,-4), which is 4 km due South of the start.
-
Q.27
Starting at point X, a man walks 9 km North, turns right and walks 9 km, turns right and walks 9 km, turns right and walks 9 km. Where is he now relative to X?
- A Back at the starting point X
- B 9 km North of X
- C 18 km North of X
- D 9 km East of X
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) Back at the starting point X
Each 90° right turn after an equal 9 km leg traces a square: North, East, South, West, each 9 km — this closed square path returns exactly to the starting point.
-
Q.28
A man starts from point P and walks 28 km North, then turns right and walks 45 km, then turns right again and walks 28 km, reaching point Q. What is the straight-line distance between P and Q?
- A 45 km
- B 73 km
- C 17 km
- D 53 km
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) 45 km
The two 28 km North/South legs cancel exactly, leaving only the 45 km East leg as the straight-line distance between P and Q.
-
Q.29
A cyclist starts at point X, rides 6 km North, then 8 km East, then 6 km South. How far, and in which direction, is he from X?
- A 8 km due East
- B 20 km due North
- C 2 km due East
- D 14 km due East
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) 8 km due East
The North (+6) and South (−6) legs cancel exactly, leaving only the 8 km East leg.
-
Q.30
A man is facing East. He turns 90° clockwise, then 180°, then 90° anticlockwise, then 90° clockwise. Which direction is he facing now?
- A North
- B South
- C East
- D West
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) North
East -> 90° clockwise -> South -> 180° -> North -> 90° anticlockwise -> West -> 90° clockwise -> North.
-
Q.31
A man starts from point P and walks 8 km North, then turns right and walks 15 km, then turns right again and walks 8 km, reaching point Q. What is the straight-line distance between P and Q?
- A 15 km
- B 23 km
- C 7 km
- D 17 km
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) 15 km
The two 8 km North/South legs cancel exactly, leaving only the 15 km East leg as the straight-line distance between P and Q.
-
Q.32
Raj walks 8 km East, then turns left and walks 6 km. How far is he from his starting point?
- A 10 km
- B 14 km
- C 2 km
- D 48 km
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) 10 km
Facing East and turning left means now facing North. Distance = sqrt(8² + 6²) = sqrt(100) = 10 km.
-
Q.33
A man is facing West. He turns left, then turns right, then turns left, then turns left. Which direction is he facing now?
- A East
- B North
- C South
- D West
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) East
Tracking the facing direction through each turn: West → South → West → South → East.
-
Q.34
A man walks 10 km North, then makes a U-turn (turns to face the exact opposite direction) and walks 4 km. How far, and in which direction, is he from his starting point?
- A 6 km due North
- B 14 km due North
- C 6 km due South
- D 4 km due South
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) 6 km due North
After walking 10 km North he is at (0,10), facing North. A U-turn makes him face South; walking 4 km South brings him to (0,6) — 6 km due North of the start.
-
Q.35
Point B is 5 km to the North of point A. Point C is 12 km to the East of point B. How far is C from A?
- A 13 km
- B 17 km
- C 7 km
- D 12 km
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) 13 km
A=(0,0), B=(0,5), C=(12,5). Distance AC = √(12² + 5²) = √(144+25) = √169 = 13 km.
-
Q.36
A man walks 6 km North, then turns right and walks 6 km, then turns right again and walks 6 km. How far is he from his starting point, and in which direction?
- A 6 km due East
- B 6 km due West
- C 18 km due North
- D 6 km due North
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) 6 km due East
Plotting the path: (0,0) -> (0,6) after walking North -> (6,6) after turning right (facing East) and walking -> (6,0) after turning right again (facing South) and walking. This is 6 km due East of the start.
-
Q.37
X walks 39 km North, then turns right and walks 80 km, then turns right again and walks 39 km, then turns right once more and walks 9 km, reaching Y. In which direction is Y from X, and how far?
- A East, 71 km
- B West, 71 km
- C East, 89 km
- D North, 71 km
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) East, 71 km
The 39 km North and 39 km South legs cancel; of the East/West legs, 80 km East exceeds 9 km West by 71 km, leaving Y exactly 71 km East of X.
-
Q.38
P starts from his house and walks 10 km South. He then turns left and walks 10 km. He turns left again and walks 5 km. He turns left once more and walks 10 km. How far is he from his house, and in which direction?
- A 5 km due South
- B 15 km due North
- C 5 km due North
- D 25 km due West
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) 5 km due South
South -> left -> East -> left -> North -> left -> West. Plotting each leg (East=+x, North=+y): (0,-10) -> (10,-10) -> (10,-5) -> (0,-5), which is 5 km due South of the start.
How these questions were made
Written by Mahesh Srivastava, Founder of Pariksha Saathi. Published: 2026-10-01.
Authored by an AI assistant (Claude) - not reviewed by a subject-matter expert.