Mastering Mental Ability: Direction Sense

Knowing about Directions

Explorations are fun! Right? From watching cartoons to finding our way with friends, we all grew up. It's easy if you can connect the problems to reality. Do you know how sailors find their way? They will be surrounded by the vast oceans, but they will still find their way. The four main directions are north, south, east, and west. Now there are some directions in between, which are: Northeast (NE), Northwest (NW), Southeast (SE), and Southwest (SW). Look at the lives of explorers; what will they do without knowing directions? If you are someone who loves travelling, then you may know the importance of directions. There were times when people used to carry road maps or ask different people about the locations. Even in the case of Google Maps, even if it shows you the directions, some people are really confused about it.

Do you want to know some tips and tricks to remember locations?

Here you go:

• A compass rose will help you find the cardinal points: North (N), South (S), East (E), and West (W).
• If you know where the sun rises and sets, then it's super easy to find east and west.
• And mainly practice well; eventually, you learn it anyway.

Sample Problems

1. Problem 1:

A person walks 3 km North, turns right, and walks 4 km, then turns right again and walks 3 km. How far are they from the starting point, and in which direction?

Solution:

• 3 km North + 4 km East + 3 km South.
• The final position is 4 km East of the starting point.

2. Problem 2:

Starting from a point, a person walks 8 km South, then turns left and walks 5 km, then turns left again and walks 8 km. How far and in which direction are they from the starting point?

Solution:

• 8 km South + 5 km East + 8 km North.
• The final position is 5 km East of the starting point.