Apparatus and methods provide sensing of quadrants, angles, or distance using magnetoresistive elements. A quadrant or angle sensor can have magnetoresistive elements split into multiple angles to generate an output with reduced harmonics. A distance sensor can have magnetoresistive elements split and spaced apart to generate an output with reduced harmonics. A biasing conductor can alternatingly carry different amounts of current (different in at least one of magnitude or direction) for DC offset compensation or cancellation.