Bearings and scale drawings Worked Solutions — GCSE Maths

Fully worked, step-by-step solutions to GCSE Bearings and scale drawings questions. See exactly how to solve problems on three-figure bearings, measuring clockwise from north, compass directions, back bearings.

three-figure bearingsmeasuring clockwise from northcompass directionsback bearingsreverse bearingturning through an angle
GCSE Foundation70 questionsStep-by-step solutions
Question 1
1 markeasy
An angle of 72∘72^\circ is measured clockwise from north. Write this direction as a three-figure bearing.

Worked solution

  1. Count the figures in the angle that is given.

    72→2 figures72 \rightarrow 2 \text{ figures}

    7272 has 22 figures, and a bearing needs three, so zeros must be put in at the front.

  2. Put in the zeros needed at the front.

    72→07272 \rightarrow 072

    Writing 11 zero in front of 7272 gives 072072. The zeros do not change the size of the angle at all.

  3. State the three-figure bearing.

    bearing=072∘\text{bearing} = 072^\circ

    The direction is the bearing 072∘072^\circ.

Answer
bearing=072∘\text{bearing} = 072^\circ
Question 2
1 markeasy
An angle of 8∘8^\circ is measured clockwise from north. Write this direction as a three-figure bearing.

Worked solution

  1. Count the figures in the angle that is given.

    8→1 figure8 \rightarrow 1 \text{ figure}

    88 has 11 figure, and a bearing needs three, so zeros must be put in at the front.

  2. Put in the zeros needed at the front.

    8→0088 \rightarrow 008

    Writing 22 zeros in front of 88 gives 008008. The zeros do not change the size of the angle at all.

  3. State the three-figure bearing.

    bearing=008∘\text{bearing} = 008^\circ

    The direction is the bearing 008∘008^\circ.

Answer
bearing=008∘\text{bearing} = 008^\circ
Question 3
2 markseasy
A ship sails in the direction north-east. Write this direction as a three-figure bearing.

Worked solution

  1. Work out the angle turned clockwise from north.

    north-east=45∘ clockwise from north\text{north-east} = 45^\circ \text{ clockwise from north}

    The eight compass points are 45∘45^\circ apart, so starting at north and turning clockwise to north-east is a turn of 45∘45^\circ.

  2. Write the angle with three figures.

    45∘→045∘45^\circ \rightarrow 045^\circ

    45∘45^\circ is written as 045∘045^\circ, because a bearing always uses three figures.

  3. State the three-figure bearing.

    bearing=045∘\text{bearing} = 045^\circ

    The direction north-east is the bearing 045∘045^\circ.

Answer
bearing=045∘\text{bearing} = 045^\circ
Question 4
2 markseasy
A ship sails in the direction south-west. Write this direction as a three-figure bearing.

Worked solution

  1. Work out the angle turned clockwise from north.

    south-west=225∘ clockwise from north\text{south-west} = 225^\circ \text{ clockwise from north}

    The eight compass points are 45∘45^\circ apart, so starting at north and turning clockwise to south-west is a turn of 225∘225^\circ.

  2. Write the angle with three figures.

    225∘→225∘225^\circ \rightarrow 225^\circ

    225∘225^\circ is written as 225∘225^\circ, because a bearing always uses three figures.

  3. State the three-figure bearing.

    bearing=225∘\text{bearing} = 225^\circ

    The direction south-west is the bearing 225∘225^\circ.

Answer
bearing=225∘\text{bearing} = 225^\circ
Question 5
2 markseasy
The bearing of BB from AA is 070∘070^\circ. Work out the bearing of AA from BB.

Worked solution

  1. Write down the bearing that is given, and note that the north lines at A and B are parallel.

    bearing of B from A=070∘\text{bearing of } B \text{ from } A = 070^\circ

    Standing at AA and facing north, you turn 070∘070^\circ clockwise to look at BB. North points the same way at BB, so the two north lines are parallel and the two bearings must differ by 180∘180^\circ.

  2. Add or subtract 180180 degrees to reverse the bearing.

    070+180=250070 + 180 = 250

    070∘070^\circ is less than 180∘180^\circ, so add 180∘180^\circ: 070+180=250070 + 180 = 250.

  3. State the bearing of A from B.

    bearing of A from B=250∘\text{bearing of } A \text{ from } B = 250^\circ

    The bearing of AA from BB is 250∘250^\circ.

Answer
bearing of A from B=250∘\text{bearing of } A \text{ from } B = 250^\circ

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