How_To_Be_Good_At_Math

254 GEOMETRY •^ COMPASS DIRECTIONS

Compass directions

A compass is a tool we use for finding a location or to help us

move in a particular direction. It has a pointer that always

shows the direction of north.

Points on a compass

Compass points show directions as angles measured clockwise

from the direction north. We call these directions bearings.

The main compass points are: north (N),

south (S), east (E), and west (W). We call

them the cardinal points.

Halfway between the cardinal points are the

ordinal points: northeast (NE), southeast (SE),

southwest (SW), and northwest (NW).

Using a compass

with a map

Most maps are printed

with a north arrow. If we

align north on the

compass with north

marked on a map, we

can find the directions

to other locations on the

map. We can then use

our compass to get from

one place to the other.

The four cardinal

compass points are:

north (N), south (S),

east (E), and west (W).

Northeast

North has a

bearing of 0°

East’s bearing

is 90°

clockwise

from north

Northwest is halfway

between north and west

Southwest Southeast

The bearing

of west is

270°

South has

a bearing

of 180°

Read off

where

the line

meets the

compass

N

S

E

W

180°

N

NW

SE

NE

SW

S

E

W

0°

270°

90°

45°

135°

225°

315°

Let’s find the direction from Point A

to Point B. First, we turn the map

so that its north arrow aligns with

the compass’s north arrow.

Now we put the compass over point A.

We can see that Point B is southeast of

Point A. This means we could get from A to B

by using the compass to guide us southeast.

0°

180°

270°

90°

B

A

N NWN N

SE

NE

SWS

W E

B

254_255_Compass_Directions.indd 254 29/02/2016 18:06