my ($dx1, $dy1) = ($x2 - $x1, $y2 - $y1); my ($dx2, $dy2) = ($x3 - $x2, $y3 - $y2); my $cross = $dx1*$dy2 - $dy1*$dx2; print $cross < 0 ? "clockwise" : $cross == 0 ? "collinear" : "counterclockwise";