Direction Sense – Study Notes
(LIC AAO – Reasoning Ability)
1. Simple Explanation
Direction sense questions test your ability to determine the relative positions of people/items in a row or group when given a set of clues that involve directions (“left of”, “right of”, “between”, “just next to”, “two places to the right of”, etc.).
Think of the row as a number line:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
- Left of → lower number
- Right of → higher number
- Between → positions in between two given people/items
- Just next to → immediately adjacent (difference = 1)
- Two places to the right of → difference = +2, etc.
Your task is to assign each person/item to a position that satisfies all the given statements.
2. Key Points to Remember
| # | Point | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Read all clues first | Pre‑reading helps spot contradictions early. |
| 2 | Mark definite positions | If a clue says “A is at the first position” – lock it in. |
| 3 | Use relative positioning | Write “A left of B” as A < B. |
| 4 | Handle “between” carefully | “C is between A and B” → A < C < B or B < C < A (direction doesn’t matter). |
| 5 | Check for exclusivity | “A is not next to B” forces a gap. |
| 6 | Count positions | If you have 8 people, positions are 1–8. Never exceed. |
| 7 | Iterate and backtrack | If a placement leads to a contradiction, move the item. |
| 8 | Use a table or diagram | Visual layout speeds up spotting conflicts. |
| 9 | Remember “two places to the right” | It means A is 2 positions after B, not adjacent. |
| 10 | Avoid over‑interpretation | “A is somewhere to the left of B” does not mean immediately left. |
3. Worked Example
Problem Statement
Eight persons – A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H – are to be seated in a straight row from left to right.
- A is seated somewhere to the left of C.
- B is seated somewhere to the right of D.
- E sits immediately to the left of F.
- G is two seats to the right of H.
- C is somewhere between G and B.
- A sits next to E.
Question: Find the complete order from leftmost to rightmost seat.
Step‑by‑Step Solution
| Step | Clue | Action | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3. E left of F (immediate) | Place E _ F consecutively. |
<E, F> |
| 2 | 6. A next to E | A must be adjacent to E. Since E is left of F, A can be left of E or right of E. | Two possibilities: A E F or E A F |
| 3 | 1. A somewhere left of C | C must be to the right of A. | If A E F, A left of C OK. If E A F, A still left of C (C to right of A). |
| 4 | 4. G two seats right of H | G = H + 2. Positions must allow this. | Possible pairs: (1,3), (2,4), (3,5), (4,6), (5,7), (6,8). |
| 5 | 2. B somewhere right of D | B > D. | Keep in mind. |
| 6 | 5. C somewhere between G and B | G < C < B or B < C < G. | Since C must be right of A, likely G < C < B. |
| 6a | Assume G left of C < B. | Place G, then later C, then B. | |
| 7 | Try a concrete arrangement: | Let’s try A E F G H C B D (positions 1–8). |
|
| 7a | Check each clue: | 1. A (1) left of C (6) ✔️ 2. B (7) right of D (8) ❌ (B not right of D) → swap D and B. | |
| 7b | New arrangement: A E F G H C D B |
1. ✔️ 2. B (8) right of D (7) ✔️ 3. E < F ✔️ 4. G (4) two right of H (2) ✔️ 5. C (6) between G (4) and B (8) ✔️ 6. A (1) next to E (2) ✔️ |
|
| 8 | All clues satisfied. | Final order: A – E – F – G – H – C – D – B |
Final Answer
Leftmost → 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ← Rightmost
A E F G H C D B
4. Quick Revision Summary
| Topic | Quick Points |
|---|---|
| Direction Sense Basics | Left = lower number, Right = higher number |
| Key Clues | - Between → A < C < B or B < C < A - Immediately next to → difference = 1 - Two seats to the right → difference = +2 |
| Strategy | 1. Lock in absolute positions (first/last). 2. Use “between” to bracket a range. 3. Place immediately‑adjacent pairs together. 4. Use back‑tracking if contradictions appear. |
| Common Mistakes | - Assuming “left of” means “immediately left”.< |