If South-East becomes North, what will North become?

Appeared in: AIIMS Delhi NO- 2019

Explanation

The premise 'South-East becomes North' establishes a 135-degree counter-clockwise rotation of the entire compass.
South-East is at 135 degrees and North is at 0 degrees. The shift is 135 degrees counter-clockwise (135° -> 0°).
Applying this same 135-degree counter-clockwise rotation to the original North (0 degrees) moves it to 225 degrees (0° - 135° = -135°, which is 360° - 135° = 225°).
The direction at 225 degrees on a standard compass is South-West.

Option A: This is incorrect. South-East would be the new position for the original West direction after a 135-degree counter-clockwise rotation (270° - 135° = 135°).
Option C: This is incorrect. North-East would be the new position for the original South direction after a 135-degree counter-clockwise rotation (180° - 135° = 45°).
Option D: This is incorrect. This would imply a 90-degree rotation, but the premise (South-East to North) establishes a 135-degree rotation.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Directional Reasoning and Logical Rotation as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While not a clinical question, directional and spatial reasoning is a component of general intelligence tests often included in nursing entrance and recruitment exams.
These questions assess logical thinking, problem-solving skills, and the ability to visualize and manipulate information mentally, which are valuable cognitive skills for nurses.
What if the question stated 'South-East becomes West'? The rotation would be 135 degrees clockwise (135° -> 270°). Applying this to North (0°) would make it 135°, which is South-East.

How to Approach the Question

First, visualize or sketch a standard compass with its eight primary directions (N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW).
Analyze the premise: 'South-East becomes North'. Determine the angle and direction of this rotation. In this case, it's a 135-degree shift counter-clockwise.
Apply the exact same rotation (135 degrees counter-clockwise) to the direction mentioned in the question, which is 'North'.
Calculate the new position: Start at North (0 degrees) and move 135 degrees counter-clockwise.
Identify the direction at the resulting new position (225 degrees), which is South-West, and select the corresponding option.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full AIIMS Delhi NO- 2019

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.