Year 10 Interactive Maths - Second Edition

Directions and Bearings

For example, the direction of A from O is N30ºE.
B is N60ºW from O.
C is S70ºE from O.
D is S80ºW from O.

Note:

N30ºE means the direction is 30º east of north.

The bearing to a point is the angle measured in a clockwise direction from the north line.

For example, the bearing of P from O is 065º.
The bearing of Q from O is 300º.

Note:

The direction of P from O is N65ºE.
The direction of Q from O is N60ºW.

A bearing is used to represent the direction of one point relative to another point.

For example, the bearing of A from B is 065º.
The bearing of B from A is 245º.

Note:

• Three figures are used to give bearings.
• All bearings are measured in a horizontal plane.

Example 19

A boat sails from a certain port in the direction N30ºW. After the boat has sailed 20 km, how far is it west of the port?

Solution:

Let the boat be x km west of the port.

So, the boat is 10 km west of the port.

Example 20

A cyclist travels 10 km south, then 8 km east. Find the cyclist's bearing from her starting point to the nearest degree.

Solution:

So, the cyclist's bearing is 141º from her starting point.

Key Terms

direction, bearing