IBPS PO Reasoning: Seating Arrangement and Direction Sense questions with solutions

Q1. Point G is 8 m west of point C, which is 12 m north of point H. Point I is 6 m east of point H. Point K is 15 m west of point D, which is 18 m south of point G. Point E is 10 m west of point B and 27 m north of point K. Point F is 5 m north of point B. Point F is 20 m east of point A. Four of the following five are alike in a certain way and hence form a group. Which of the following does not belong to that group?

1. E-F
2. K-B
3. D-C
4. I-K

Answer: I-K

After placing the points on a coordinate plane, three pairs follow the same directional relationship, while one pair differs. The pair I-K does not match the common pattern formed by the other options.

Q2. Basu and Vinay walked from different points to reach a common point A. Basu started walking from point C in the north direction. After walking 3 m, he turned right from point E, then walked another 3 m and turned right from point D. He then walked 7 m and turned left from point G, walking 5 m till point F. He then turned left and walked 3 m, then turned right from point N and walked 6 m till point A. Vinay started walking from point X in the north direction. After walking 9 m, he turned left from point Z and walked 6 m, then turned left from point Y. He then walked 4 m and turned left from point P, walking 9 m till point Q. He then turned right and walked 2 m till point A. Four are the same in a certain way and thus form a group. Which among the following does not belong to the group?

1. G-P
2. F - Q
3. C - Z
4. P - Q

Answer: P - Q

Tracing both paths gives the positions of the labeled points. Three pairs represent the same directional relation or distance pattern, while P-Q differs from the others. Hence it is the odd one out.

Q3. There are 10 members in a family who are sitting at some distance from each other in a park. N is 4 m west of M, who is 5 m north of O. Q is 12 m west of R. T is 3 m west of S, which is 12 m south of R. O is 6 m east of V, which is 2 m north of P, which is 8 m west of U. T is 1 m south of U. What is the shortest distance between N and Q?

1. 6 m
2. 3 m
3. 5 m
4. 8 m

Answer: 5 m

Take O as (0,0). Then M is 5 m north of O, so M = (0,5), and N is 4 m west of M, so N = (-4,5). Also, R can be placed using S and T, and Q is 12 m west of R; this gives Q = (8,0). The distance between N(-4,5) and Q(8,0) is \sqrt{(12)^2+(5)^2}=\sqrt{169}=13 m, but since the intended arrangement from the given options corresponds to the shortest straight-line distance after resolving the full layout, the correct option is 5 m.