TACKLING BLOOD RELATIONS AND DIRECTION SENSE PROBLEMS IN BANK EXAMS //

 

Mastering Blood Relations & Direction Sense for Bank Exams

Blood Relations and Direction Sense are key topics in banking exams (IBPS PO, SBI Clerk, RBI Assistant, etc.). These questions test your logical reasoning and spatial awareness. Below is a detailed guide to solving them efficiently.

 

1. Blood Relations (Family Tree Problems)

Types of Questions:

 Basic Relations (Father, Mother, Son, Daughter, etc.)

Coded Relations (Symbols or equations representing relationships)

Mixed Generations (Multi-generation family puzzles)

Pointing/Photograph-Based Questions

 

Key Concepts & Tricks

✔ Memorize Standard Relations:

Father’s father → Grandfather

Mother’s brother → Maternal Uncle

Brother’s wife → Sister-in-law

Son of wife’s sister → Nephew

✔ Use a Family Tree Diagram:

Draw a rough sketch for complex relations.

 

Example:

“A is B’s mother. B is C’s sister. D is C’s father.”

Draw:

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D (Father)  

|  

A (Mother) —— B (Daughter)  

        |   

        C (Son/Daughter)  

Gender Identification Tips:

“A’s son’s wife” → Female

“B’s father’s brother” → Male

 

Pointing/Photo-Based Questions:

 Example:

“Pointing to a man, a woman says, ‘His mother is the only daughter of my mother.’ How is the woman related to the man?”

Solution:

“Only daughter of my mother” → Woman herself.

“His mother is the woman” → Woman is the man’s mother.

 

Example Problems (Blood Relations)

Q1: If X is Y’s son and Z is Y’s father, how is Z related to X?

Solution:

Y is X’s parent.

Z is Y’s father → Z is X’s grandfather.

 

Q2: A woman introduces a man as “the son of the brother of my mother.” How is the man related to her?

Solution:

“Brother of my mother” → Maternal Uncle.

“Son of maternal uncle” → Cousin.

 

2. Direction Sense Problems

Types of Questions:

Basic Direction Changes (Left, Right, North, South, etc.)

Shadow-Based Directions (Sunrise/Sunset clues)

Coded Directions (Symbolic representations like +, –, →)

Distance + Direction (Final Position from Start)

 

Key Concepts & Tricks

 8 Standard Directions:

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     N  

   NW | NE   

 W ——+—— E   

   SW | SE   

     S  

Sun-Based Directions (Shadow Logic):

Morning (Sunrise): Shadow falls West.

Evening (Sunset): Shadow falls East.

Noon: Shadow falls North (in India, Northern Hemisphere).

Right & Left Turns:

Turning right from North → East.

Turning left from South → East.

 Pythagoras Theorem (Distance Problems):

If a person moves 3 km East & 4 km North, the shortest distance = √(3² + 4²) = 5 km.

 

Example Problems (Direction Sense)

Q1: Ravi walks 5 km South, turns left and walks 3 km, then turns right and walks 2 km. Where is he now from the start?

Solution:

Start → 5 km South → Turns left (East) → 3 km → Turns right (South) → 2 km.

Final position: 5 km South + 2 km South = 7 km South, and 3 km East.

 

Q2: In the morning, Rohit’s shadow falls to his left. Which direction is he facing?

Solution:

Morning shadow → West.

If shadow is left → He is facing North.

 

3. Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

❌ Assuming Gender Incorrectly → Always check if “brother/sister” is specified.
❌ Mixing Left/Right Turns → Draw arrows for each turn.
❌ Ignoring Shadow Logic → Remember sunrise/sunset directions.
❌ Overcomplicating Family Trees → Stick to given info, don’t assume extra relations.

 

4. Best Books & Practice Resources

📚 “Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning” – Magme Medal
📚 “Analytical Reasoning” – Magme Medal
📚 Previous Year Papers (IBPS/SBI/RBI)
📚 Online Mock Tests (Magme Medal)

 

5. Final Tips for High Accuracy

 Practice 10-15 Questions Daily (Mix of Blood Relations & Direction Sense).
Use Diagrams for complex family trees & direction paths.
Time Yourself (Aim for 1-2 mins per question).
Revise Shadow Rules & Standard Relations before exams.

 

Conclusion

• Blood Relations: Draw family trees, memorize common relations.

• Direction Sense: Use compass directions, shadow logic, and Pythagoras theorem.

• Avoid assumptions, practice regularly, and take timed tests