🔍 Key Concepts

• Cross bearings and how the angle between two lines of position affects fix accuracy • Why bearings that are close to 90° apart usually give the most reliable fix • Difference between an acute angle (small) and an obtuse angle (large) between bearings

💭 Think About

• First, find the angle between the 086° bearing and each of the answer choices. Which option gives an angle closest to a right angle (90°)? • Think about what happens to your position uncertainty when the two bearings are nearly in line with each other versus when they cross close to 90°. Which situation tightens the fix? • Are you measuring the smallest angle between the two bearings on the compass rose, or just subtracting without thinking about the circular nature of 0–360°?

✅ Before You Answer

• For each choice, calculate the smallest difference in degrees between 086° and that bearing (remember the compass circle wraps at 360°). • Identify which bearing produces a crossing angle closest to 90° with 086°. That will usually give the best fix. • Make sure you’re comparing angles between lines of position, not just picking the bearing that “looks” most different numerically.