A bearing gives a direction as an angle. Stand at the starting point, face north and turn clockwise until you face the other point: the amount you turn is the bearing. Bearings always have three figures, so 65° is written 065. East is 090, south 180 and west 270. The bearing of B from A starts at A. To go back the other way, turn half a turn: add or subtract 180°.
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Maths you can move
Build 8 + 5
Tap two gold counters to fill the ten-frame.
8 in the frame + 5 waiting. The total stays the same.
Words to know
- bearing
- an angle measured clockwise from north, written with three figures
- back bearing
- the bearing for the return journey, 180° different
Worked examples
B is 65° clockwise from north of A. What is the bearing of B from A?
- 1.The angle is measured clockwise from north, so it is the bearing.
- 2.Write three figures: 065.
= 065
B is 30° clockwise from east of A. What is the bearing of B from A?
- 1.East is 090.
- 2.090 + 30 = 120.
= 120
The bearing of B from A is 250°. What is the bearing of A from B?
- 1.Turn half a turn: 250 is more than 180, so subtract.
- 2.250 − 180 = 70, written 070.
= 070
For parents
Method: Use a phone compass: face north, turn to face something and read its bearing.
What to say: Where do bearings start? Which way do they turn? How many figures?
Common mistakes:
- Writes a bearing under 100° without the leading zero, so it does not have three figures.
- Measures the bearing anticlockwise from north instead of clockwise.
- Gives the angle marked on the diagram (or the bearing in the question) without working out the bearing asked for.
- Gives the bearing of A from B instead of B from A.
- Adds 180° for a back bearing even when that goes past 360°.
- Takes a bearing away from 360° to reverse it, instead of turning half a turn.