You take a bearing of 142° and 259° of two...

You take a bearing of 142° and 259° of two objects. Which bearing of a third object will give the best fix?

🔍 Key Concepts

• Three-bearing fixes work best when the lines of position cross at good angles (not too shallow). Angles of about 60° between LOPs are considered ideal. • The angle between bearings is found by taking the smaller difference between the two directions (remember bearings wrap around 360°). • Very small angles (nearly parallel lines) or very large angles (nearly in a straight line) give a poor fix.

💭 Think About

• First, find the angle between the first two bearings: 142° and 259°. What is the smaller angle between them? • For each answer choice, imagine that bearing as the third line of position. What are the angles between that third bearing and each of the first two bearings? • Which option gives angles so that all three lines meet with none of the angles too small (say under about 30°) and with the three angles reasonably balanced around the ideal of about 60° each?

✅ Before You Answer

• Be sure you always use the smaller angle between two bearings (max 180°). • Check that your chosen bearing does not produce a very small angle (e.g., around 20°) with either 142° or 259°, which would mean nearly parallel LOPs. • Verify which choice makes the three intersecting angles closest to a balanced triangle (roughly 60°–60°–60°) rather than a long, skinny one.

🔍 Key Concepts

💭 Think About

✅ Before You Answer