GCSE Maths Practice: bearings
This question teaches how to resolve a distance into its northward component using bearings and cosine.
Draw the triangle, identify the adjacent side for northward distance, and use cosine.
When a ship sails on a given bearing, the path can be resolved into northward and eastward components. Here, the ship sails 120 km on a bearing of 060°. To calculate the northward distance, we use cosine: northward distance = 120 × cos(60°) = 60 km. This technique applies to any bearing to find components along cardinal directions. Visual diagrams help understand the triangle formed, label the hypotenuse (total distance), and identify the adjacent side (northward). Practising these calculations reinforces understanding of trigonometry, vector components, and navigation problems. It is essential to apply the correct trigonometric function (cosine for adjacent, sine for opposite). Accurate diagramming and calculation improve confidence in exam-style questions and real-world applications in aviation, shipping, and map reading.