A bearing of 320$^o$ expressed as a compass bearing is

Analyze the question

A bearing of 320° is a three-figure bearing, measured clockwise from North. We need to rewrite it as a compass bearing, which is measured from North or South toward East or West.

Concept

• Bearings go clockwise from North: North = 000°, East = 090°, South = 180°, West = 270°, and back to North = 360°.
• 320° lies between 270° (West) and 360° (North), so it is in the North-West quadrant.
• In this quadrant, the compass bearing is written as N (angle) W, where the angle is measured from North toward West.

Solution

Angle from North, going anticlockwise toward West:

360° − 320° = 40°

So the direction is 40° west of North, which is N 40° W.

Check: From West (270°), the angle to 320° is 320° − 270° = 50°, so it is 50° north of West (W 50° N). That is the same direction as N 40° W, because 40° + 50° = 90°.

Answer: Option B, N 40° W.

Tip: For a bearing between 270° and 360°, subtract it from 360° to get the angle from North, and write N ... W. Option A (N 50° W) is the common trap, because 50° is the angle from West, not from North.