GCSE · Bearings

Bearings & back bearingsExam-style questions

The three rules of a bearing, measuring from North at each new point, the ±180° back-bearing rule, and combining bearings with right-angled trigonometry to find distances and directions.

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15 questions · GCSE (Higher) level · mark scheme and worked solution on each · no sign-up to try

DifficultyAll Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5

1
A ship leaves a harbour $H$ and sails $8$ km on a bearing of $060°$ to a point $P$ . It then sails $5$ km on a bearing of $150°$ to a point $Q$ .

(a) Work out the distance $HQ$ . Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures. (3 marks)

(b) Work out the bearing of $Q$ from $H$ . Give your answer correct to the nearest degree. (2 marks)
Level 4 · 5 marksTry it
2
A ship sails $9$ km due East from $P$ to $Q$ , and then $5$ km due North from $Q$ to $R$ .Diagram NOT accurately drawn

Work out the bearing of $R$ from $P$ . Give your answer correct to the nearest degree.
Level 4 · 3 marksTry it
3
A helicopter flies $8$ km from $A$ on a bearing of $125°$ to reach $B$ .

(a) Work out how far East of $A$ the point $B$ is. Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

(b) Work out how far South of $A$ the point $B$ is. Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.
Level 4 · 4 marksTry it
4
A phone mast $M$ is $7.4$ km due West and $3.9$ km due North of a house $H$ .

(a) Work out the distance $HM$ . Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

(b) Work out the bearing of $M$ from $H$ . Give your answer correct to the nearest degree.
Level 4 · 5 marksTry it