Shape and Space - part 2
DIRECTION- 3 FIGURE BEARINGS
The main compass points, North, South, North West and so on, give us
a basic direction. If we need to describe a direction more accurately,
we can use a 3-figure bearing. This is an angle measured clockwise
from the North.
Example:
If we wanted to go from town F to town R and need to know which
direction to take, we face north at F and turn clockwise in the
direction of R. The angle we turn through is the bearing of R from F.
N
R
F
Here are more examples of bearings, all taken from F.
The bearing of A from F is 060°
The bearing of B from F is 135°
N
N
A
135
60
F
F
The bearing of Z from F is 215°
F
B
215
Z
f lex i p
As you see, bearings are always written as 3 figure numbers, so for
example, a bearing of 40° is written as 040°.
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Shape and Space - part 2
We can also give the main compass points as 3 figure bearings.
N
Example:
NE
If we want to know the 3 figure bearing
for the compass point South East,
we face North and turn clockwise until
we reach the direction South East.
The angle we’ve turned through is: 
we are
here 
North 
East
90°
(a right angle)
East
South East
45°
(half a right angle)

Total
E

SE
135°
So the direction South East has the bearing 135°
A)
Have a try at these questions
This diagram shows 8 compass points. Try working out what each
compass point will be, written as a 3 figure bearing taken from
North. Remember that a right angle has 90°
N
Compass point
3 figure bearing
North
000°
NE
NW
North East
East
South East
E
W
135°
South
SE
SW
South East
West
North West
f lex i p
S
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Shape and Space - part 2
When we want to find other bearings, we can measure the angle of the
bearing with a protractor.
B)
In the diagrams below, you are in town F and want to head for
town C. Try to find the bearing of C from F by measuring the
angle. (You’ll need to give the answer as a 3 figure bearing)
1) N
2)
C
F
N
C
F
N
3)
4)
F
5)
N
F
N
N
6)
C
C
F
F
f lex i p
C
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C
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Shape and Space - part 2
If the bearing is more than 180°, it may be easier to measure the
smaller angle and take that from 360°.
Example:
What is the bearing of R from F?
N
120
F
The angle between North and R is
measured as 120°. But to give the
bearing, we need the clockwise
angle (a).
a
So the bearing of R from F is
360° - 120° = 240°

R
C)
In these questions, try to find the bearing of R from F, using a
protractor to measure the smaller angle.
1)
2)
N
3)
N
N
R
F
F
F
R
R
4)
N
5)
F
f lex i p
R
F
R
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N
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Shape and Space - part 2
North Lines
If you have to construct your own north line, you can use a
set square to draw a line at right angles to the top of your
paper.
Or you could try drawing a north line on acetate or transparent plastic
which can be moved around as needed.
It helps to remember, that the north line is drawn at the point you
are taking the bearing from, i.e. where you are standing.
Example:
S
We need to get from S to T.
What bearing do we need to take?
T
First draw a north line at S. Now we
can measure the bearing of T from S
The bearing of T from S is 100°
S
T
D)
Have a try at these: find the bearing of A from B
1)
2)
A
A
B
B
3)
4)
B
Measure the smaller

angle and subtract from
360° to find the bearing
f lex i p
A
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A
5
B
Shape and Space - part 2
To Draw a Bearing
To draw a bearing, we need to start where the bearing is taken from
Example:
R is on a bearing of 060° from A
To find where this is, we have to begin at A and draw a north line
from A (squared paper could be used, or a set square).
N
A
Now measure an angle of 60° from A, using the north line as your
base.
N
R lies on this line
60
A
E)
Have a go at drawing diagrams to show the following bearings
f lex i p
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
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A is on a bearing of 040° from B
G is on a bearing of 027° from H
Q is on a bearing of 063° from R
E is on a bearing of 099° from F
U is on a bearing of 135° from V
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Shape and Space - part 2
When the bearing is more than 180°, you can draw the smaller anticlockwise angle as in D
Example:
N
P is on a bearing of 200° from X
X
The smaller angle will be 360° - 200° = 160°
N
160
N
X
X
P
P
f lex i p
F)
The bearing of P
from X = 200
Have a try at drawing these bearings:
1)
C is on a bearing of 208° from D
2)
M is on a bearing of 245° from N
3)
X is on a bearing of 326° from Y
4)
J is on a bearing of 280° from K
5)
P is on a bearing of 340° from Z
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200
Shape and Space - part 2
G)
Have a try at working out these bearings, using the map below:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
What is the bearing of Leeds from Liverpool?
What is the bearing of Brighton from Oxford?
What is the bearing of Aberdeen from Glasgow?
What is the bearing of Cardiff from Plymouth?
What is the bearing of Glasgow from Carlisle?
What is the bearing of Preston from Leeds?
If you fly from Plymouth on a bearing of 040°, which town
on the map will you reach?
If you travel from Newcastle on a bearing of 144°, which
town will you come to?
A pilot leaves Aberdeen on a bearing of 225°. Which town
is she heading for?
N
W
E
S
f lex i p
Check your answers then discuss with your tutor what you need to
work on next.
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Shape and Space - part 2
Answers
3 Figure Bearings
D)
A)
000°
1)
085°
045°
2)
055°
090°
3)
140°
135°
4)
300°
180°
225°
E)
(check with tutor)
F)
(check with tutor)
270°
315°
360°
G)
B)
1)
040°
2)
090°
3)
130°
4)
160°
5)
115°
6)
180°
C)
210°
2)
235°
3)
310°
4)
250°
5)
330°
f lex i p
1)
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1)
070°
2)
140°
3)
045°
4)
020°
5)
325°
6)
280°
7)
Nottingham
8)
Norwich
9)
Glasgow