Adults stumped by ‘strange’ Year 11 GCSE maths question they can’t figure out

Adults across the country are scratching their heads over a ‘strange’ Year 11 GCSE maths question that has gone viral. The question, posted by PLS Tutors on TikTok, asks: “The bearing of A from B is 098°. Find the bearing of B from A.” This problem has left many adults pondering their maths skills and whether they could outsmart a Year 11 student at exams.

For those unfamiliar with navigation terms, a reciprocal bearing, also known as back bearing, is the direction that is exactly opposite to a given bearing. It is the angle that points directly back to the starting point from the destination. The tutor in the video breakdown explains that this particular question is one of the more unusual ones on a GCSE maths paper, necessary for achieving high grades like 78 out of 80.

To solve the question, one needs to draw out angles and connect them to find the answer, which in this case is 278. Despite the explanation provided in the video, many individuals found themselves still baffled by the question. Some questioned the practicality of such exam questions in real life, while others expressed gratitude for the clarity provided by the tutorial and wished they had been taught in a similar manner years ago.

Whether or not you managed to crack the code on this tricky maths question, it’s clear that maths skills can be put to the test even for adults who haven’t thought about algebra and geometry since their school days. It just goes to show that learning is a lifelong journey, and who knows, maybe with a bit of practice, you could be acing those Year 11 GCSE maths questions too.