Confusing "bearing of A from B" with "bearing of B from A"
"The From Confusion"
The Mistake in Action
Find the bearing of A from B.
Wrong: Stands at A and measures angle to B.
Why It Happens
The phrase "bearing of A from B" is counterintuitive — students think it means "from A to B" rather than "standing at B, looking toward A".
The Fix
"Bearing of A from B" means:
- Stand at B
- Face North
- Turn clockwise until facing A
- That angle is the bearing
Memory aid: The second place is where you stand. "Bearing of A from B" = you are at B, looking toward A.
Think: "Of → To, From → At"
Spot the Mistake
Can you identify where this student went wrong?
Find bearing of A from B
Stands at A and measures to B
Click on the line that contains the error.
Related Topics
Learn more about the underlying maths: