Compass Directions and Maps

In short: The eight compass directions in clockwise order are N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W and NW, each $45^{\circ }$ apart. On a map, the real distance is the map distance multiplied by the scale.

Before you start

• Turning: a quarter turn is $90^{\circ }$, a half turn is $180^{\circ }$ (see Types of Angles).
• Multiplying by a scale, such as "1 cm stands for 10 m".

The compass rose

Describing where places are

"Sydney is east of Canberra" means if you stand in Canberra and face Sydney, you face east. Swap the places and the direction flips: Canberra is west of Sydney.

Following a route on a grid

Scale and distance

A scale tells you how much real distance each unit on the map stands for.

Quick summary

• The compass points in clockwise order are N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW, each $45^{\circ }$ apart.
• "A is east of B" means from B you look east to see A. Then B is west of A.
• On a route, total the moves each way. North cancels south, east cancels west.
• Real distance $=$ map distance $\times$ scale.

Quiz