GCSE Mathematics (9-1)

17.5 Bearings and scale drawings — Practise

Work independently, then check your answers and reasoning.

  1. Write the three-figure bearing for east.
  2. Write the three-figure bearing for south-west.
  3. Write the three-figure bearing for south-east.
  4. A scale is 1 cm to 4 km. What real distance does 6 cm represent?
  5. A scale is 1 cm to 5 m. How long is 35 m on the drawing?
  6. A map scale is 1:25 000. What real distance in metres does 4 cm represent?
  7. A rectangle is 24 m by 18 m. Work out its diagonal.
  8. A route goes 24 m east and 18 m north. Find its bearing to the nearest degree.
  9. A plan uses 1 cm to 5 m. The garden is 20 m by 15 m. Which method finds the real diagonal: scale the drawing, or use Pythagoras on the real lengths? Give a reason, then work it out.
Answers and concise solutions

1. Write the three-figure bearing for east.

Answer: 090 degrees

2. Write the three-figure bearing for south-west.

Answer: 225 degrees

3. Write the three-figure bearing for south-east.

Answer: 135 degrees

4. A scale is 1 cm to 4 km. What real distance does 6 cm represent?

Answer: 24 km

5. A scale is 1 cm to 5 m. How long is 35 m on the drawing?

Answer: 7 cm

6. A map scale is 1:25 000. What real distance in metres does 4 cm represent?

Answer: 1000 m

7. A rectangle is 24 m by 18 m. Work out its diagonal.

Answer: 30 m

8. A route goes 24 m east and 18 m north. Find its bearing to the nearest degree.

Answer: 053 degrees

9. Method choice: scale or Pythagoras

Answer: Both methods agree. The plan is 4 cm by 3 cm, so its diagonal is 42+32=5\sqrt{4^2+3^2}=5 cm. That represents 5×5=255\times5=25 m, and Pythagoras on the real lengths also gives 202+152=25\sqrt{20^2+15^2}=25 m.

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