# Bearings

A way to give a direction as an angle measured clockwise from north, always with three digits.

Maths (school) · Part 07: Shape and space · Card 7 of 9 · Last updated 2026-10-19

## Analogy

Like a compass dial: north is 000, east is 090, south is 180, west is 270.

## Example

**B is on a bearing of 070 from A**

Back bearing from B to A
= 070 + 180
= 250

## In practice

Ships, planes and hikers use bearings to navigate.

## Practice

### Flashcards

- **What is the back bearing of 070?** 250. Add 180.

## Questions people ask

### How do you find a back bearing?

Add 180 if the original bearing is less than 180. Subtract 180 if it is more. A bearing of 070 gives a back bearing of 250. A bearing of 250 gives 070. Parallel north lines make this work. Sketching a small north line at each point makes the angles easy to check.

### Why do bearings have three digits?

Writing three digits keeps all bearings the same format and prevents confusion. East is 090 rather than 90, and north is 000. It makes written directions clear and quick to read, especially for pilots and sailors. So a bearing of 5 degrees is written 005, which no one can mistake for something else.

## Related concepts

- [Congruent shapes](https://studyvisually.com/learn/science/maths-school/maths-school-part-7/maths-school-part-7-concept-5)
- [Similar shapes](https://studyvisually.com/learn/science/maths-school/maths-school-part-7/maths-school-part-7-concept-6)
- [Vectors](https://studyvisually.com/learn/science/maths-school/maths-school-part-7/maths-school-part-7-concept-8)
- [Constructions](https://studyvisually.com/learn/science/maths-school/maths-school-part-7/maths-school-part-7-concept-9)

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