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Maths•SHS Core: Geometry, Mensuration & Bearings

Bearings & polygons

Senior High 6 questions
AI-drafted from platform data — specialist review scheduledBy DigiTransact Mastermind editorial teamLast updated
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What bearings & polygons means

You learn how to read three-figure bearings and use angle facts in polygons. This helps you describe direction clearly and solve geometry questions on maps, shapes, and exam diagrams.

What you will practise

  • Read and write bearings from north in clockwise order
  • Convert compass directions into three-figure bearing form
  • Find missing angles in triangles and other polygons
  • Use interior angle rules to check answers in diagrams
  • Solve short geometry problems with directions and shapes

Before you start

You should be comfortable with the points of the compass, basic angle types, and simple addition and subtraction of angles. It also helps to know the names of common polygons.

Not confident yet? Work through Mensuration of solids first.

Worked example

One question from this skill's own question bank, shown with its full working.

Question

A bearing due east is written as:

  • 045°
  • 090°
  • 180°
  • 270°
Answer: 090°

Working: Bearings are measured clockwise from north; due east is 090°.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Measuring bearings from east or south instead of north. Always start at north and move clockwise.
  • Writing one or two digits only. Bearings should be three figures, such as 090° or 180°.
  • Using the wrong polygon angle rule. Check whether you need the sum of interior angles or a single angle size.
  • Forgetting that all interior angles in a triangle add to 180°. Add carefully before finding any missing angle.

Curriculum and exam alignment

Ghana GES SHS syllabusWASSCE

This topic usually appears in SHS geometry work on directions and polygons, where learners build from basic angle facts to more advanced problem solving. It supports the kind of reasoning often tested in WASSCE mathematics questions.

Curriculum notes are a general guide to where this work normally sits. Always check the syllabus your school or examination body is currently using.

Related skills

Other SHS Core: Geometry, Mensuration & Bearings skills in Maths, at the same point in the course.

Other Maths topics

Picture Addition & SubtractionEarly NumeracyNumber BasicsSHS Core MathematicsUniversity MathematicsAlgebra

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Exams that assess bearings & polygons

Senior High work on this skill feeds directly into these exam papers. Each page lists the Maths topics that appear on it.

WASSCEWASSCE practice questionsFree WASSCE practice across the subjects at this stage, with worked answers.GESGES practice questionsFree GES practice across the subjects at this stage, with worked answers.BECEBECE practice questionsListed as a related subject on the BECE practice page.

How this page was produced

This text was drafted with AI assistance from the questions and topics already stored on the platform. A subject-specialist review is scheduled but has not yet been recorded, so we do not claim it here.

Written by
DigiTransact Mastermind editorial team
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Practise bearings & polygons

6 questions with a worked answer after every attempt, and a SmartScore that tracks how close you are to mastery.

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