Understanding Bearings Basics
Think of bearings like giving someone super-precise directions. Instead of saying "go sort of northeast," you can say exactly which direction to travel using a number.
Bearings always start from north and go clockwise. This is crucial to remember! You'll always need to draw a north line first if one isn't already there. The angle is then measured clockwise from this north line to your direction.
Here's a quirky rule: bearings must always be written as three-digit numbers. So if your angle is 80°, you write it as 080°. If it's 5°, you write 005°. This keeps everything consistent and prevents confusion.
Quick Tip: Allied angles (angles on a straight line) add up to 180°, whilst angles around a point total 360°. You'll use these facts constantly when working backwards from one bearing to find another!
