Understand the idea.
Parts of a turn
A full turn returns you to your starting direction. A half turn faces the opposite way. Split a full turn into four equal moves to get quarter turns; a three-quarter turn uses three of these moves.
Clockwise or anticlockwise?
Check both the starting direction and the turning direction. Clockwise follows clock hands: up, right, down, left, then up. Anticlockwise goes the other way. For a longer turn, track one quarter turn at a time rather than guessing the finish.
See the method in action.
One quarter turn
An arrow points up. It makes a clockwise quarter turn. Where does it point?
Worked solution
- 1
Begin with the arrow pointing up.
A turn is measured from the direction given in the question.
- 2
Follow clockwise for one quarter of a full turn.
In the clockwise order, the direction after up is right.
- 3
Stop after that one move.
The arrow finishes pointing right; moving farther would be more than a quarter turn.
Right.
Three quarter turns
An arrow points right. It makes three clockwise quarter turns. Where does it point?
Worked solution
- 1
Make the first clockwise quarter turn from right.
The next direction clockwise after right is down.
- 2
Make the second clockwise quarter turn.
From down, the next direction clockwise is left.
- 3
Make the third clockwise quarter turn.
From left, the next direction clockwise is up, so the arrow finishes pointing up.
Up.
Try it yourself.
Check your understanding
An arrow points down. It makes a half turn. Where does it point?
Show answer & reasoning
Up.
A half turn faces the opposite way. Up is opposite down, so the arrow finishes pointing up; either turning direction gives the same finish.
Keep practising
6 worksheet questions
Read the questions online
- An arrow points up. It makes a clockwise quarter turn. Where does it point?
- An arrow points up. It makes an anticlockwise quarter turn. Where does it point?
- An arrow points left. It makes a half turn. Where does it point?
- An arrow points down. It makes a full turn. Where does it point?
- An arrow points up. It makes three clockwise quarter turns. Where does it point?
- Luca makes two clockwise quarter turns. Name one turn that gives the same final direction.
Read the worked solutions
- An arrow points up. It makes a clockwise quarter turn. Where does it point?
Up moves to right for one clockwise quarter turn.
Right. - An arrow points up. It makes an anticlockwise quarter turn. Where does it point?
The anticlockwise direction goes from up to left.
Left. - An arrow points left. It makes a half turn. Where does it point?
Right is opposite left.
Right. - An arrow points down. It makes a full turn. Where does it point?
A full turn returns to the starting direction.
Down. - An arrow points up. It makes three clockwise quarter turns. Where does it point?
Up to right, then down, then left.
Left. - Luca makes two clockwise quarter turns. Name one turn that gives the same final direction.
Two quarters make one half.
A half turn.
Curriculum reference & lesson scope
Australian Curriculum v9 and SA Curriculum Mathematics
Sides and spatial features; straight/curved/opposite/parallel; quarter/half/three-quarter/full turns.
Official curriculum source ↗