Bearings and Distances

Bearings are the clockwise angular relationship between two distant places, measured in degrees from the north. The relevant directions are the four cardinal points: North, South, East and West.

This north direction is usually provided in the maths exam question. We then measure the required angle in a clockwise direction. All bearings need to be given in three figures, e.g. 008°, 010°, 045°, 080°, 128°, 260°, etc.

For Example:

The diagram shows three points X , Y and Z .

The angles are measured clockwise from the north line.

• The bearing of X from Z is 045º
• The bearing of Y from Z is 250º

Note: In sketching the diagram representing bearing problems, the term due North, South, East, or West means on the straight line of any cardinal point mentioned.

Example 2.2.1:

A village P is 10 km from a point X on a bearing 025° from X . Another village Q , is 6 km