Definition:Bearing

Definition

Let $A$ be a point on the surface of Earth such that $P$ is neither the North Pole nor the South Pole.

Let $B$ be another point on the surface of Earth.

The bearing of $B$ with respect to $A$ is defined as the angle measured clockwise between $AB$ and $AN$, where $N$ is the North Pole.

Symbol

The angle of a bearing is measured in degrees, and its presentation padded out to $3$ digits.

Hence, for example, a bearing of $45$ degrees is expressed as $045 \degrees$.

Warning

For the concept of a bearing to make proper sense, it is important to note that $B$ must be sufficiently close to $A$ so as to allow the surface of Earth to be approximated to a plane.

Also see

• Results about bearing can be found here.

Sources

• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): bearing
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): bearing