Direction & Distance – Shortcut Techniques

Direction & Distance is one of the most scoring topics in the reasoning section of Banking, and other competitive exams. These questions test your ability to track movement, orientation, and distance between two points. With the right shortcuts and visualization techniques, you can solve these questions in seconds with 100% accuracy.

Direction & Distance – Shortcut Techniques

Basic Direction Chart

• North
• South
• East
• West

Diagonal Directions:
NE, NW, SE, SW

Shortcut Techniques for Quick Solving

Shortcut techniques for quick solving in Direction & Distance include drawing small arrows for each movement to visualise the path clearly. Always calculate the net movement by cancelling opposite directions, which simplifies the final position. Use the Pythagoras theorem whenever the movement forms a right angle, helping you find the shortest distance instantly.

1. Draw While Reading

The quickest method is to draw arrows for every movement.
Example: If the statement says “He moves 5 km East,” draw a right arrow.

2. Break Movements into Components

If someone moves in a zig-zag direction, treat each movement as a straight line in N/S or E/W.

3. Use the Pythagoras Trick

When the movement forms a right-angle triangle:

• Distance = √(x² + y²)
  This is extremely helpful in almost every exam problem.

4. Remember Opposite Pairs

• North – South
• East – West
  If someone moves equal distances in opposite directions, they cancel out.

5. Determine Final Position Using Net Movements

Final direction = Larger movement direction – Smaller opposite movement.
Example: 8 km North and 3 km South – Net = 5 km North.

Key Tips to Reduce Mistakes

• Always draw a quick rough diagram.
• Don’t assume direction; follow exactly what’s written.
• Keep North always at the top to avoid confusion.
• Solve step-by-step instead of visualizing everything mentally.