Which statement about bearing notation is accurate?

• A. The bearing states whether the angle is measured from the north or the south and also toward the east or west.
• B. Azimuth is always used and bearing is never used.
• C. Bearings are always expressed as azimuths from north.
• D. Bearings are only used for vertical angles.

Answer: (A)

Bearing notation communicates direction by using a reference meridian (north or south) and then indicating the direction toward east or west. This is how quadrant bearings are written, for example N45°E or S20°W. It tells you both which axis the angle starts from and which side of that axis the line lies in, which is essential for plotting lines precisely on a map or plan. There’s also azimuth, a related form that uses a single clockwise angle from north measured 0 to 360 degrees, but not all bearings are given as azimuths. Bearings describe horizontal angles, not vertical ones, which use different terms like zenith or dip. So the statement is accurate because it captures exactly how bearing notation conveys the starting direction (north or south) and the direction toward east or west.