GCSE Maths Practice: bearings
This question helps students understand bearings and reverse bearings. Bearings are always measured clockwise from North. Calculating the reverse bearing is a key skill in navigation and geometry problems.
Always remember to add or subtract 180° for reverse bearings. Sketch the diagram for clarity. Use three-digit notation.
Bearings are a way of representing direction using angles measured clockwise from the North. To find the reverse bearing, you add 180° if the initial bearing is less than 180°, or subtract 180° if it is greater. For example, a plane traveling on a bearing of 060° from A to B would have a reverse bearing from B to A of 060° + 180° = 240°. This principle applies to navigation, maps, and geometric diagrams. Practice by sketching the points and visually checking the bearing. Remember that bearings are always three digits, so 060° instead of 60°. Use this method for any pair of points, and verify with a diagram to reinforce understanding. By mastering reverse bearings, students improve both practical and theoretical knowledge of compass directions and angles.