You observe that when you are looking at the front of your house at 8:00 AM, the sun is to the right of you. Returning to the same exact spot at 4:00 pm, you notice that the sun is now to the left of you. At which direction were you facing at 8:00 AM and 4:00 pm?

You observe that when you are looking at the front of your house at 8:00 AM, the sun is to the right of you. Returning to the same exact spot at 4:00 pm, you notice that the sun is now to the left of you. At which direction were you facing at 8:00 AM and 4:00 pm?

• A. East
• B. North
• C. South
• D. West

Answer: (B)

Sun rises in the east and moves toward the west across the sky. If you’re facing north, then east sits to your right and west sits to your left. Seeing the Sun to your right in the morning means you’re facing north. Half a day later, the Sun has moved to the west; if you’re still in the same spot and facing north, it would be to your left, which matches the 4:00 PM observation. So you were facing north at both times.

Sun rises in the east and moves toward the west across the sky. If you’re facing north, then east sits to your right and west sits to your left. Seeing the Sun to your right in the morning means you’re facing north. Half a day later, the Sun has moved to the west; if you’re still in the same spot and facing north, it would be to your left, which matches the 4:00 PM observation. So you were facing north at both times.