GCSE Maths - What are Bearings? (2026/27 exams)

Summary

This video explains how to use bearings in navigation by demonstrating how to calculate the bearing between two points. Key rules are covered, such as always measuring from north, measuring clockwise, and writing bearings with three digits. Examples illustrate how to determine bearings, with additional tips for when using protractors with limited range. The video concludes with a more complex exam-style question where viewers must mark the position of a pond based on provided bearings. Practical tips and clear steps make this a useful guide for understanding bearings.

Takeaways

• 😀 Bearings are used in navigation to determine the direction between two points.
• 😀 To find the bearing of point B from point A, you need to determine the direction you need to travel from A to B.
• 😀 Bearings are always measured from north, and the angle is measured clockwise.
• 😀 Bearings should always be expressed using three digits (e.g., 065 degrees instead of 65 degrees).
• 😀 In the first example, the bearing from A to B is 065 degrees, which is measured clockwise from the north line.
• 😀 When calculating a bearing, add a north line to your starting point to establish where to start measuring the angle.
• 😀 In another example, the bearing from Q to P is 310 degrees, which is measured clockwise from north.
• 😀 If a protractor only measures angles up to 180 degrees, you can measure the smaller angle and subtract it from 360 to find the bearing.
• 😀 In exam-style questions, you may need to use multiple bearings to find a location, such as locating a pond by its bearings from two different people.
• 😀 When working with bearings on a diagram, you draw the bearings as lines and find the point where they intersect to locate the object (e.g., the pond).

Q & A

What is a bearing in navigation?

A bearing is a direction or angle that helps determine the course to take from one point to another. It is usually measured clockwise from north.

How do you find the bearing from one point to another?

To find the bearing, you draw a north line from the starting point, measure the clockwise angle from north to the destination, and express it as a three-digit number.

What are the three important rules to remember when working with bearings?

The three important rules are: 1) Always measure angles from north, 2) Always measure the angle clockwise from north, and 3) Express bearings using three digits.

Why is it necessary to express bearings with three digits?

Expressing bearings with three digits ensures consistency and clarity in representing the direction. For example, a bearing of 65 degrees is written as 065 degrees.

How do you find the bearing when given two points, p and q?

To find the bearing from point q to point p, you draw a north arrow at q, measure the clockwise angle from north to point p, and express the angle in three digits.

What should you do if the protractor doesn't measure an angle greater than 180 degrees?

If the protractor only measures up to 180 degrees, you can measure the smaller angle (less than 180 degrees) and subtract it from 360 to get the full bearing.

In the example with points p and q, how do you determine the bearing from q to p?

To determine the bearing from q to p, you measure the clockwise angle from the north line at q to point p, which is 310 degrees.

In the exam-style question, how do you find the position of the pond?

To find the position of the pond, you draw the bearings from person A and person B on the diagram, then find the point where the two lines intersect. This is where the pond is located.

What is the significance of the dashed line in the example question?

The dashed line represents the bearing direction, but it doesn't show the exact location of the pond. It only indicates that the pond lies somewhere along that line.

What happens if the bearings from A and B don't intersect?

If the bearings from A and B don't intersect, it would mean the given information is inaccurate or that the pond is located elsewhere. In a valid problem, the two bearings should intersect at a single point.