Which of the following correctly describes compass bearings?

Compass bearings are a system of navigation used to specify direction relative to the cardinal points: north, south, east, and west. The correct answer describes how bearings are measured from a north-south axis and then indicate the direction towards the east or west.

This method allows for precise communication of direction. For example, a bearing of 30° would imply that you start facing north and rotate 30 degrees towards the east. Conversely, a bearing of 150° indicates movement to the southwest direction, rotating away from the north. This system is widely used in navigation, land surveying, and other fields relying on geographical orientation.

The other options do not accurately represent the way compass bearings function. Bearings are not measured from east to west alone, nor are they restricted to two-dimensional coordinates, as they can be considered in three-dimensional space for altitude. Furthermore, compass bearings are not described as absolute angles from the equator; instead, they are defined in relation to the north-south axis. Thus, understanding that compass bearings are based on measured angles from this axis towards east or west clarifies their practical application in navigation.