Whose left and whose right

Learning outcome

You can take left and right from the person in the question, including a person who faces you.

Concepts and reasons

To his right means the right of that person, from the direction he faces. It does not mean the right side of the page. If he faces north, his right is east and his left is west. If he faces south, his right is west and his left is east. If he faces east, his right is south and his left is north. If he faces west, his right is north and his left is south. A person who faces you looks the opposite way. His right is on your left. If the question never says which way anyone faces, east and west are not determined. Do not invent a facing.

Worked examples

1. Ravi faces north. The person on his right stands to the east.
2. Ravi faces south. The person on his right stands to the west.
3. You face north, and a man faces you. He faces south. His right is west, which is your left.

Common traps

The right-hand side of your notebook is not his right. Facing you swaps the two sides. His right becomes your left. A line of people has a right side only after the question gives their facing.

Practice questions

1. Meera faces north. Which direction is on her right?
2. Meera faces south. Which direction is on her left?
3. You face east. A person faces you. Which direction is on that person right?

Answers and explanations

1. East. A person facing north has east on the right.
2. East. A person facing south has east on the left.
3. North. You face east, so the other person faces west. A person facing west has north on the right.

Analogy

Left and right are written on the person, like a pair of shoes. When that person turns around to face you, the shoes swap sides in your view.

Quick reference

• Use the facing the question gives. Do not use the page.
• Face north: right east, left west. Face south: right west, left east.
• Face east: right south, left north. Face west: right north, left south.
• A person facing you: his right is your left. No facing given: do not name a compass direction.