Bearing: GCSE Mathematics Definition

What is a bearing?

A bearing is a way of specifying the direction from one point to another point using an angle measure. The angle is measured in degrees (°), and for a bearing it is always measured going clockwise from due north. So something due east of you would be at a bearing of 090° from you. Similarly, due south is a bearing of 180°, due west is a bearing of 270°, and due north is a bearing of either 000° or 360°.

You should also know how to reverse a bearing. If the bearing from A to B is X, then the bearing from B to A is either X+180° or X-180° (whichever one gives you an answer between 000° and 360°).

When bearings appear in exam questions, it is often as a way to introduce a question about angles, trigonometry, or some other geometry topic.

How many digits are there in a bearing?

Note that bearings are always given in 3 digits. So, for example, even though east is 90 degrees clockwise from north, as a bearing you should give that as 090°. 

Bearings Revision Resources to Ace Your Exams

For more details, see our revision notes on Bearings. You can also have a go at our related exam questions and flashcards to test your understanding. Don’t forget to check out the past papers for more general exam revision.

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