What is a bearing?
A bearing is an angle that measures the direction of one place from another. A bearing is always measured clockwise from north and written with three digits, for example 045° or 270°. Writing three digits avoids confusion so that 45° is not misread as 450°. Bearing values begin at 000° at north and turn all the way round to 360° when they return to north. Unlike ordinary compass directions such as north or north-east, a bearing gives a more exact direction because it is stated in degrees.
Key idea
Bearing = an angle measured clockwise from north, written in three digits (0° to 360°).
Bearings of the main directions
A compass has eight main directions. Each has a fixed bearing:
- North = 000° or 360°
- East = 090°, South = 180°, West = 270°
- North-East = 045°, South-East = 135°, South-West = 225°, North-West = 315°
Back bearing
A back bearing is the return direction from B to A when the forward bearing from A to B is known. If the forward bearing is less than 180°, add 180°; if it is more than 180°, subtract 180°.
Example
The bearing from A to B is 060°. Since 060° is less than 180°, the back bearing from B to A is 060° + 180° = 240°.
Remember
Place the protractor with 0° pointing north and measure the angle clockwise. Always write three digits and the degree symbol (°).