The Logical Reasoning (LR) section in Common Admission Test (CAT) carries different types of questions including questions on your direction sense.
While you must have been taught in your school days that there are four directions namely – East, West, North, South, the CAT questions also twist your sense on four more directions that lay in the middle of each pair of subsequent main directions. So instead of four, you are generally faced with eight directions in related LR questions.
You should have a broad idea of map before attempting such questions. The map defines the following eight directions – East, West, North, South and Northeast, Southeast, Northwest, Southwest. You need to understand and visualize the directional movement to arrive at the correct answer option. Definitely, those candidates who are good at the affiliated subjects of social studies (Geography for instance) will be more skilled to crack it quickly and accurately.
But a few basic concepts can make you solve such questions easily.
Tips to solve-
1. Learn the basic concepts of map and directions
2. Have the understanding of angles ( 90,45, 360 degrees etc.) if one is asked to locate the direction after turning to 45 degree Northeast – where will the person be heading to- it should be clear
3. Develop an ability to visualise the movement of direction
4. Carefully go along various clues in the questions and use them to arrive at the right answer option
Example CAT Questions-
Direction for questions 1- 4
Answer these questions based on the information given below.
A country has the following types of traffic signals.
3 red lights = stop;
2 red lights = turn left;
1 red light = turn right;
3 green lights = go at 100 kmph speed;
2 green lights = go at 40 kmph speed
1 green light = go at 20 kmph speed
A motorist starts at a point on a road and follows all traffic signals literally. His car is heading towards the north. He encounters the following signals (the time mentioned in each case below is applicable after crossing the previous signal)
Starting point – 1 green light;
After half an hour, 1st signal – 2 red and 2 green lights;
After 15 minutes, 2nd signal – 1 red light
After half an hour, 3rd signal-1 red & 3 green lights;
After 24 minutes, 4th signal- 2 red and 2 green lights;
After 15 minutes, 5th signal – 3 red lights;
1. The total distance travelled by the motorist from the starting point till the last signal is :
(a) 90 km (b) 100 km (c) 120 km (d) none of these
2. What is the position (radial distance) of the motorist when he reaches the last signal?
(a) 45 km directly north of the starting point
(b) 30 km directly to the east of the starting point
(c) 50 km away to the northeast of the starting point
(d) 45 km away to the northwest of the starting point
3. After the starting point if the 1st signal were 1 red and 2 green lights, what would be the final position of the motorist?
(a) 30 km to the west and 20 km to the south
(b) 30 km to the west and 40 km to the north
(c) 50 km to the east and 40 km to the north
(d) Directly 30 km to the east
4. If at the starting point, the car was heading towards south, what would be the final position of the motorist?
(a) 30 km to the east and 40 km to the south
(b) 50 km to the east and 40 km to the south
(c) 30 km to the west and 40 km to the south
(d) 50 km to the west and 20 km to the north
Answers – Before proceeding to opt for right answer options, try to calculate the total distance from starting to ending point. You will realize that the travelled distance is ( after various zig-zags) diagonal, if we draw a straight line. Now based upon the given information we may have the following
Q.1 – Ans.(a) 90 kms- the motorist goes 10 kms, takes left-goes 10 kms, takes right-goes 20 kms- again takes right- goes 40 kms, takes left- goes 10 kms. Total distance = 90 kms.
Q.2 Ans. (c ) - 50 km away to the northeast of the starting point. (Refer the explanation above. If you form a diagram you will find the hypotenuse with two legs = 30 and 40)
Q.3 Ans. –(a) 30 km to the west and 20 km to the south – With the new condition, the diagram shall have to be amended and accordingly – the end point will be as above.
Q.4 Ans – ( c ) 30 km to the west and 40 km to the south. Now the motorist will start heading towards south instead of north, hence the travelling map will change and we will arrive at the captioned answer option
The author of this article Mr S K Agarwal is a CAT Expert, a seasoned CAT trainer with over 25 years of experience, & author of many CAT books. He also guides Verbal Ability Section to CAT Aspirants through MBAUniverse.com online coaching classes.
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