Constructions of various shapes

using only compass and

straightedge/ruler

Compiled by Pedup Dukpa

(For third year Paro College of Education
students)
Important questions to ask
yourself:
What is construction?
Who invented this tool commonly
used in geometry?
Geometry? What?
And why?
When ….?
Where…?
How….?
TOOLS NEEDED

COMPASS
STRAIGHT EDGE
PENCIL
PAPER
YOUR BRAIN (THE MOST
IMPORTANT TOOL)
What do we mean by
construction?

the drawing of geometric items

such as lines and circles using only
a compass and straightedge. Very
importantly, you are not allowed to
measure angles with a protractor,
or measure lengths with a ruler.
Compass

The compass is a drawing instrument used for drawing

circles and arcs. It has two legs, one with a point and the
other with a pencil or lead. You can adjust the distance
between the point and the pencil and that setting will
remain until you change it.
Note: This kind of compass has nothing to do with the kind
used find the North direction when you are lost.

Straightedge

A straightedge is simply a guide for the pencil when

drawing straight lines. In most cases you will use a ruler for
this, since it is the most likely to be available, but you
must not use the markings on the ruler during
constructions. If possible, turn the ruler over so you
cannot see them.
Father of Geometry
Euclid, the
ancient Greek
mathematician is
the acknowledged
to be the inventor
of geometry.
He did this over
2000 years ago,
and his book
"Elements" is
still regarded as
the ultimate
geometry
Why did Euclid do it this way?
 Why didn't Euclid just measure things with a ruler and
calculate lengths so as to bisect them?

The Greeks could not do arithmetic. They had only

whole numbers, no zero, and no negative numbers like
the Roman numerals. In short, they could perform very
little useful arithmetic.

So, faced with the problem of finding the midpoint of a

line, they could not do the obvious - measure it and
divide by two. They had to have other ways, and this
lead to the constructions using compass and
straightedge. It is also the reason why the straightedge
has no markings. It is definitely not a graduated ruler,
but simply a pencil guide for making straight lines.
Euclid and the Greeks solved problems
graphically, by drawing shapes, as a substitute
for using arithmetic.
Enough Intro.
 Let’s get it
started…
with the topic...
Bisecting a Line Segment

 Given the line segment

extending from point A to
point B, carry out the
following steps to
construct the
perpendicular bisector.

 Step 1: Let r be greater

than one-half of AB.
Construct a circle of
radius r at both points A
and B.
 Step 2: Connect with a line
segment the two points
where the circles intersect.

 You're done! Line EF is the

perpendicular bisector of
Segment AB.
Investigation
Investigation
Angle Bisector
Construction

Aim: Divide an angle in half

Start
 Angle Bisector
A

Aim: divide an angle in half

Compass
point
Arc over
both lines

Step1 Home
 Angle Bisector

Aim: divide an angle in half

Compass
point
Arc over
both lines

Step1 Home
 Angle Bisector

Aim: divide an angle in half

Compass
point
Arc over
both lines

Step1 Home
 Angle Bisector
B

Aim: divide an angle in half

Keep the
compass
the same

Arc into
space

Compass
point

Step1 Step2 Home

 Angle Bisector

Aim: divide an angle in half

Keep the
compass
the same

Arc into
space

Compass
point

Step1 Step2 Home

Home
 Angle Bisector

Aim: divide an angle in half

Keep the
compass
the same

Arc into
space

Compass
point

Step1 Step2 Home

 Angle Bisector
C

Aim: divide an angle in half

Keep the
compass
the same

Arc to cross
Compass
point

Step1 Step2 Step3 Home

 Angle Bisector

Aim: divide an angle in half

Keep the
compass
the same

Arc to cross
Compass
point

Step1 Step2 Step3 Home

 Angle Bisector

Aim: divide an angle in half

With this
point
Use a ruler
to join this
point…
1 0 11 12
8 9
6 7
4 5
2 3
0 1

Step1 Step2 Step3 Step4 Home

 Angle Bisector

Aim: divide an angle in half

Angle
The angle is bisector
now cut in
half
1
2
1
2

Step1 Step2 Step3 Step4 The End In circle Home

 In circle
Do the angle bisectors of the three corners of a triangle meet at a point?

Home
 In circle
Do the angle bisectors of the three corners of a triangle meet at a point?

Like this?

Home
 In circle
Do the angle bisectors of the three corners of a triangle meet at a point?

OR this?

Home
 In circle
Do the angle bisectors of the three corners of a triangle meet at a point?

Home
Construction of in-circle of a triangle
a

x o
o
x c

Draw the triangle abc

Construct the bisector of ∠abc using circle arcs.
Construct the bisector of ∠acb
The bisectors meet at i the incentre of the triangle
Using i as centre construct the incircle of the triangle abc
 Construction of Circumcircle
of a triangle Steps of Construction
C Construct a Δ ABC

Bisect the side AB

Bisect the side BC

o
The two lines meet at O

From O Join B

A B Taking OB as radius
draw a circumcircle.
Construction of parallel
lines:
 How To Construct Parallel Lines
Given line k and an exterior point P
Step 1:Draw an arbitrary line
through point P, intersecting
line k. Call the intersection
point Q.

k
Q
Step 2:Center the compass at point Q and
draw an arc intersecting both lines. Without
changing the radius of the compass, center it
at point P and draw another arc

k
Q
Step 3:Set the compass radius to the distance
between the two intersection points of the
first arc. Now center the compass at the point
where the second arc intersects line PQ. Mark
the arc intersection point R.

k
Q
Finally, join point P with the point R.

Line PR is parallel to line k

P
R
R

k
Q
Construction of perpendicular
lines:

Homework
(You may work in groups but
please don’t directly copy your
fren’s work… )
Types of triangle:
 According to sides:
 Scalene Triangle
 Isosceles Triangle

 Equilateral Triangle

 According to angles:
 Acute Angled Triangle

 Obtuse Angled Triangle\

 Right Angled Triangle

Note: There are actually 7 types.

I have attached the other notes as
a document and not power point
presentation (PPT) slides, mainly
because I stop using PPT as
suggested by one of your fren’s.