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Bearings from North
A bearing is a compass direction, usually a three-figure angle measured from North clockwise. North itself is 000, East is 090, South is 180, and West is 270. The bearing of B from A is the direction you would travel from A toward B. Keep three digits even for small angles: write 075, not 75 deg, when the question asks for a three-figure bearing.
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Bearings from North
What is it?
A bearing is a compass direction, usually a three-figure angle measured from North clockwise. North itself is 000, East is 090, South is 180, and West is 270. The bearing of B from A is the direction you would travel from A toward B. Keep three digits even for small angles: write 075, not 75 deg, when the question asks for a three-figure bearing.
In simple words
- A bearing is a compass direction, usually a three-figure angle measured from North clockwise.
- Stand at the starting point, face North, then turn clockwise until you face the target.
- Draw North as an upward arrow.
- Trigonometry enters when a right triangle is drawn against North and East.
Important terms
three-figure: A bearing is a compass direction, usually a three-figure angle measured from North clockwise.
from North: A bearing is a compass direction, usually a three-figure angle measured from North clockwise.
clockwise: A bearing is a compass direction, usually a three-figure angle measured from North clockwise.
000: North itself is 000, East is 090, South is 180, and West is 270.
What you should learn
- Explain bearings from north in clear mathematical language
- Apply the ideas in three-figure bearings
- Solve problems involving using a sketch
Examples
- 000 North
- 090 East
- 180 South
THREE-FIGURE BEARINGS
Stand at the starting point, face North, then turn clockwise until you face the target. The turning angle, written with three digits, is the bearing. 000 is North, 090 is East, 180 is South, and 270 is West. A ship on bearing 045 is heading north-east. Because clockwise from North is not the same as anti-clockwise from the x-axis, do not treat a bearing as a standard-position angle without a sketch.
USING A SKETCH
Draw North as an upward arrow. From that arrow, swing clockwise to the path. If a road runs due east of a town, its bearing from the town is 090. If you reverse the journey, the back bearing differs by 180 (add or subtract 180 to stay between 000 and 360). Acute bearings such as 030 still need three figures.
Recommended for Class 9
Full school-level explanation
A bearing is a compass direction, usually a three-figure angle measured from North clockwise. North itself is 000, East is 090, South is 180, and West is 270. The bearing of B from A is the direction you would travel from A toward B. Keep three digits even for small angles: write 075, not 75 deg, when the question asks for a three-figure bearing.
North is the zero; the clock turns the other way from standard position:
What it means
A bearing is a compass direction, usually a three-figure angle measured from North clockwise.
Main ideas
1. THREE-FIGURE BEARINGS: Stand at the starting point, face North, then turn clockwise until you face the target. 2. USING A SKETCH: Draw North as an upward arrow.
Why it matters
Trigonometry enters when a right triangle is drawn against North and East. The angle with North is the bearing if you turned clockwise; tan of the other angle may give East-West against North-South. Always label North on the diagram before you compute tan theta.
How to answer in an exam
Bearings in this course are three-figure from North clockwise: 000 North, 090 East. Standard-position theta starts from the positive x-axis anti-clockwise, so a bearing of 090 is not a 90 deg standard angle without a fresh sketch. Write three digits.
THREE-FIGURE BEARINGS
Stand at the starting point, face North, then turn clockwise until you face the target. The turning angle, written with three digits, is the bearing. 000 is North, 090 is East, 180 is South, and 270 is West. A ship on bearing 045 is heading north-east. Because clockwise from North is not the same as anti-clockwise from the x-axis, do not treat a bearing as a standard-position angle without a sketch.
Remember
- face North
- clockwise
- 000 is North
- 090 is East
Examples
- 000 North
- 090 East
- 180 South
USING A SKETCH
Draw North as an upward arrow. From that arrow, swing clockwise to the path. If a road runs due east of a town, its bearing from the town is 090. If you reverse the journey, the back bearing differs by 180 (add or subtract 180 to stay between 000 and 360). Acute bearings such as 030 still need three figures.
Remember
- North as an upward arrow
- clockwise
- back bearing
- three figures
Examples
- Town to a point due east: 090
- Bearing 030 still written 030
- Back of 090 is 270
Remember
- three-figure
- from North
- clockwise
- 000
- 090
- North
- clockwise
- tan theta
How the ideas connect
Trigonometry enters when a right triangle is drawn against North and East. The angle with North is the bearing if you turned clockwise; tan of the other angle may give East-West against North-South. Always label North on the diagram before you compute tan theta.
Deeper understanding
Go beyond memorising Bearings from North. Connect the definition to reasons, relationships, exceptions, and exam wording.
How the ideas connect
Trigonometry enters when a right triangle is drawn against North and East. The angle with North is the bearing if you turned clockwise; tan of the other angle may give East-West against North-South. Always label North on the diagram before you compute tan theta.
Common mistakes
Exam focus
Core Idea
Key Terms
Main Pattern
Worked Reminder
Exam focus
Quick revision
- three-figure
- from North
- clockwise
- 000
- three-figure: A bearing is a compass direction, usually a three-figure angle measured from North clockwise.
- from North: A bearing is a compass direction, usually a three-figure angle measured from North clockwise.
Bearings in this course are three-figure from North clockwise: 000 North, 090 East. Standard-position theta starts from the positive x-axis anti-clockwise, so a bearing of 090 is not a 90 deg standard angle without a fresh sketch. Write three digits.
For long answers on Bearings from North: define clearly → explain the main parts → give one example → state one exam caution.
Exam Focus
Exam Focus
Important points
- three-figure
- from North
- clockwise
- 000
Important formulas
- three-figure
- from North
- clockwise
Common exam traps
- Bearings in this course are three-figure from North clockwise: 000 North, 090 East.
- Standard-position theta starts from the positive x-axis anti-clockwise, so a bearing of 090 is not a 90 deg standard angle without a fresh sketch.
Long question structure
Definition → key parts → example → exam caution
Common Mistakes
Common Mistakes
- Mistake
Bearings in this course are three-figure from North clockwise: 000 North, 090 East.
- Mistake
Standard-position theta starts from the positive x-axis anti-clockwise, so a bearing of 090 is not a 90 deg standard angle without a fresh sketch.
- Mistake
Do not mix up three-figure bearings with using a sketch; use the condition given in the question.
- Mistake
Bearings in this course are three-figure from North clockwise: 000 North, 090 East. Standard-position theta starts from the positive x-axis anti-clockwise, so a
Revision Zone
60-Second Revision
Quick cues from this topic — use them for last-minute revision.
three-figure
from North
clockwise
000
A bearing is a compass direction, usually a three-figure angle measured from North clockwise. North itself is 000, East is 090, South is 180, and West is 270. T
- Definition
- A bearing is a compass direction, usually a three-figure angle measured from North clockwise. North itself is 000, East is 090, South is 180, and West is 270. T
- Example
- 000 North
- Critical warning
- Bearings in this course are three-figure from North clockwise: 000 North, 090 East.
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Exam Practice
Define
Q1. Define Bearings from North.
Explain
Q2. Explain: THREE-FIGURE BEARINGS.
Example
Q3. Give one clear example of Bearings from North and say why it fits.
Mistake
Q4. State one common mistake students make about Bearings from North.
Exam note
Q5. Write a short exam note on Bearings from North: definition, two points, one example.
Sources & References
School-standard facts for Matric and Intermediate. Original explanations — not copied from textbooks.