Which projection is described as maintaining shapes and relative positions but not ideal for true direction?

• A. Mercator Projection
• B. Robinson Projection
• C. Winkel Tripel Projection
• D. Equirectangular Projection

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is how map projections balance distortions. The Robinson projection is a well-known compromise that keeps the overall shapes of continents and their relative positions recognizable, so the world looks natural at a glance. However, it does not preserve true direction, so bearings and straight-line navigation on the map aren’t accurate. That trade-off—good overall appearance with imperfect directions—is what makes Robinson best described by this statement. For comparison, Mercator preserves angles and directions locally but wildly distorts size toward the poles, Equirectangular is simple but distorts shapes and distances, especially near the poles, and Winkel Tripel also aims to balance distortions but in a different way.