How should bearings be expressed?

Bearings are a way of expressing direction in navigation and geometry, specifically indicating the direction of one point from another using angles measured clockwise from the north. To maintain consistency and clarity in communication, bearings are expressed in three figures, which includes a leading zero when necessary. For example, a bearing of 45 degrees is written as 045°, ensuring that it consists of three digits. This format helps distinguish between angles less than 100 degrees and aids in precise navigation and orientation.

Using three figures allows for a uniform method that makes it easier to understand and prevents confusion when reading the bearings. The use of degrees is particularly useful in fields such as surveying, aviation, and maritime navigation, where accuracy is crucial. This systematic approach is why the correct expression of bearings is in the format of three figures, such as 045°.