Earth Science
Confusing Latitude and Longitude
Students swap latitude and longitude when reading or writing map coordinates.
Quick check
Why students make it
The words sound similar, and students often focus on the direction that the grid lines run instead of what each coordinate measures. This makes them mix up north or south with east or west.
The rule done right
Latitude measures how far north or south a place is from the Equator and uses N or S. Longitude measures how far east or west a place is from the Prime Meridian and uses E or W.
Related resources
- Latitude, Longitude, and Time Zones Cheat Sheet
- Topographic Map Reading Cheat Sheet
- Reading a Topographic Profile from Contour Lines Cheat Sheet
- Great Circle Distance Tool
- Time Zone Physics Tool Tool
- Sunrise, Sunset & Day Length Calculator Tool
- Day/Night Earth Simulator Tool
- Topographic Map & Contour Lines Tool Tool