ERECTING PERPENDICULAR LINE

1. Chord Bisection Method

In Figure 1 it is required to erect a perpendicular to the line AB at point m.
Two equal lengths, mb and mc, are measured on each side of point m.
With b as center and taking any convenient length of tape as radius, an arc
of a circle is described. The same procedure is repeated at point c. The
intersection of the two arcs locate point d, and line dm is the desired
perpendicular to AB.
2. 3:4:5 Method

In figure 2, the method involves the setting up on the ground of a triangle

whose three sides are made in the proportions of 3,4, and 5. Point A is
selected on line MN, measure 3.0m to the first tapeman at B and the 10-m
mark held by the second tapeman at A, a loop is formed by the third
tapeman then pulls each part of the tape to locate point Con the ground.
The line joining points A and C is the desired perpendicular to line MN.
MEASURING ANGLES WITH TAPE

Formula:

If lengths are equal, and the chord distance d is measured and bisected:

Use: Sin (O) = d/2

2 L
If unequal lengths are laid out, use:
Cos A = (AC)2 + (AB)2 – (BC)2..........
2(AC)(AB)

Sin (A) = √(S-AC)(S-AB)

2 (AC)(AB)

Example 1:
The angle between two intersecting fences is to be determined with a tape.
A point on each fence line is established 30.0m from the point of
intersection. If the distance between the established points is 12.20m, what
is the intersection angle?

Solution:
Sin (O) = 6.10 = 0.203333
2 30

O = 23o27’50” (intersection angle)

Example 2:
In the quadrilateral ABCD shown in the figure, the following lengths were
measured by tape; AB = 760.5m, BC =390.8m, CD = 371.6m, DA = 595.8m,
and AC = 765.4m. Compute the interior angle at each corner.
Given:
AB = 760.5m
BC = 390.8m
CD = 371.6m
DA = 595.8m
AC = 765.4m

REQUIRED: Interior angles of A, B, C, AND D.

Solution:
Cos A1 = (AC)2 + (DA)2 – (CD)2 = (765.4)2 + (595.8)2 – (371.6)2
2(AC)(DA) 2(765.4)(595.8)
= 28 20’28.5”
o

Cos D = (DA)2 + (CD)2 – (AC)2 = (595.8)2 + (371.6)2 – (765.4)2

2(DA)(CD) 2(595.8)(371.6)
= 102 05’38.2”
o

Cos C1 = (CD)2 + (AC)2 – (DA)2 = (371.6)2 + 765.4)2 – (595.8)2

2(CD)(AC) 2(371.6)(765.4)
= 49 33’53.3”
o
Cos A2 = (AB)2 + (AC)2 – (BC)2 = (760.5)2 + (765.4)2 – (390.8)2
2(AB)(AC) 2(760.5)(765.4)
= 29 40’35.9”
o

Cos B = (AB)2 + ((BC)2 – (AC)2 = (760.5)2 + (390.8)2 – (765.4)2

2(AB)(BC) 2(760.5)(390.8)
= 75 51’22”
o

Cos C2 = (AC)2 + (BC)2 – (AB)2 = (765.4)2 + (390.8)2 – (760.5)2

2(AC)(BC) 2(765.4)(390.8)
= 74 28’02”
o

INTERIOR ANGLES
A = A1 + A 2 = 58o01’05”
B = 75o51’22”
C = C1 +C2 = 124o01’55”
D = 102o05’38”