A position detecting device selects sensors arranged in the order of sensor 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 in an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction. In a first selection pattern, the device selects a sensor in the order of sensor 1, 6, 2, 5, 3, and 4. In a second pattern, the device selects a sensor in the order of sensor 1, 6, 5, 2, 3, and 4. In a third pattern, the device selects a sensor in the order of sensor 1, 6, 2, 5, 4, and 3. In a fourth pattern, the device selects a sensor in the order of sensor 1, 6, 5, 2, 3, and 4. By selecting the sensors 1 to 6 in an order different from the order of the arrangement and communicating signals with a position pointer, the device detects the position pointed by the position pointer.