TRIGONOMETRY BEARING PROBLEMS
Reminder: There are two ways to express a “bearing”
1) Clockwise from due North.
2) Using a North/South line and using an acute
angle to show direction
128°
Bearing: 128°
Bearing: S52°E
1. Draw a diagram that shows a bearing of:
a) 225°
b) 𝑁50°𝐸
c) 310°
d) 𝑆25°𝑊
2. A ship travels 70 km on a bearing of 27° and then travels on a bearing of 147° for 180
km to reach the final destination. Find the distance from the starting point to the final
destination. (Ans: 157.2km)
3. Two lighthouses are located on a north-south line. From lighthouse A the bearing of
a ship 3742 m away is 129°. From lighthouse B the bearing of the ship is 40°. Find the
distance between the lighthouses. (Ans: 5820.6m)
4. Radio direction finders are set up at points A and B, which are 2.00km apart on an
east-west line. From A it is found that the bearing of the signal from a radio
transmitter is N36°E, while from B the bearing of the same signal is N42°W. Find the
distance of the transmitter from B. (Ans: 1.6 km)
5. Radar stations A and B are on an east-west line, 3.7 km apart. Station A detects a
plane at C, on a bearing of 61°. Station B detects the plane at a bearing of 321°.
Find the distance from A to C. (Ans: 2.9 mi)
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