How to Solve a Bearing Azimuth

Knowing how to tell where you're at or where you're going with a compass allows you to pinpoint the direction you'll need take and keep that direction even if there is an obstacle you must temporarily detour around. Getting back to the proper direction after navigating the obstacle should lead you to safety if you're hiking or walking out of a dangerous situation. The directional points on a compass are both referred to as "bearings" and an "azimuth." A "bearing azimuth" is a combined reference to both, even though a bearing reference is the same as its corresponding azimuth reference.

Things You'll Need

  • Compass
  • Map
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lay your map out on a flat surface and place your compass out on the map. Take notice of where north, south, east and west are on the compass. Turn the compass and the map so that both the line on the top of the compass and the line that points "north" on the map align with where the floating indicator is pointing at north inside of the compass.

    • 2

      Imagine a vertical line down the middle of the compass from north to south and a horizontal line separating the top from the bottom running east to west, effectively dividing the compass into four quadrants. The four quadrants of northeast, southeast, southwest and northwest are referenced as bearings with 90 separate degrees between each one. For example, if someone said her bearing is southwest 45 degrees, she is heading exactly half way between the "west" and the "south" indicator on the compass. A bearing reference starts over at "0" at each directional marker and counts to "90" degrees until the next one.

    • 3

      Identify the numbers around the face of the compass. The top number where north is, is both "0" and "360." All the tick marks in between represent degrees and are an "azimuth" reference. For example, if someone said his azimuth is 225 degrees, he heading in the direction exactly halfway between the "west" and the "south" indicator on the compass, the same as in the bearing in Step 2.

    • 4

      Solve a "bearing azimuth" by first identifying the directional quadrant of the compass the reference is given in and then the degree marker within that quadrant, which will always start at "0" or "north," moving sequentially to "359" degrees clockwise. For example, if someone says she is heading northeast 45 degrees, you know she is heading somewhere in the top right-hand quadrant between the "north" and the "east" markers on the compass. Counting 45 tick marks clockwise from the "0" degree mark at due "north" will show you she is heading exactly half way between the "north" and "east" markers. If she said she is heading northwest 315 degrees, he is heading exactly halfway between the "north" and "west" markers on the compass.