Angle properties and bearings

1. Each diagram shows the bearing of B from A.

Calculate the bearing of A from B.
a) b) c)

2. Determine the shaded angle ABC in each diagram.

You do not need a scale drawing or protractor.
a) b)

c) d)

3. In each diagram, a boat sails from A to B, then turns through the marked angle and
sails to C. When the boat is at B, calculate:
i. the bearing of A from B
ii. the bearing of C from B
a) b)
4. A boat sails a triangular course clockwise as shown.
Calculate the internal angles A, B and C in each triangle.
a)

b)

(Hint: angle A is not 40°.

Find angles B and C first.)
c)

What do you notice about this triangle?

5. Use your answer for question 4 to calculate the bearings needed to sail each course
anticlockwise instead, i.e. the bearings from A to C, then C to B and finally B to A.
Extension

6. The organisers decide that the course ABC below is too long. They make a new
course ABM, where M is halfway between A and C.

M
.

a) Calculate the internal angles A, B and C in the original course and hence explain
why the turn at M must be exactly 90 degrees.
b) Find the two new bearings needed to complete this course, i.e.
i. the bearing of M from B
ii. the bearing of A from M

7. a) Sketch a clockwise triangular course where the first leg is on a bearing of 040°
and all three legs are the same distance. Calculate the other two bearings.
b) State the second two bearings if the first leg is instead on a bearing of 051°.

8. A particularly mathematical sailing club want a course in the shape of an isosceles

triangle. If the first leg is on a bearing of 040° and the second leg is 188°, sketch
two possible courses and calculate the bearing of the third leg.
Answers
1. a) 250° b) 315° c) 050°

2. a) 70° b) 125 ° c) 145 ° d) 60°

3. a) i. 240° ii. 120 ° b) i. 290° ii. 250°

4. a) A: 30°; B: 110°; C: 40° b) A: 45°; B: 110°; C: 25° c) A: 73°; B: 73°; C: 34°

(An isosceles triangle)

5. a) A: 090°; B: 310°; C: 240° b) A: 095°; B: 300°; C: 230° c) A: 123°; B: 337°; C: 230°

6. a) A: 26°; B: 128°; C: 26° so the original course is an isosceles triangle (since angles A and C
are the same). If you cut an isosceles triangle in half down the line of symmetry, as in this
case, then both halves are identical right-angled triangles. Hence the turn at M is 90°.
b) i. 200° ii. 290°

7.

The second two bearings are:

a) 160° and 280°
b) 171° and 291°

8.

Third bearing: 252°

Third bearing: 294°