Copying a triangle

After doing this Your work should look like this

Start with the triangle ABC

which we will copy.

1. Mark a point P that will be

one vertex of the new triangle

2. Set the compasses' width to

the length of one side of the
original triangle ABC. In this
example we use AC.

3. With the compasses' point

on P, make an arc near where
the next vertex of the triangle
will be.
 After doing this Your work should look like this

4. Mark a point R on the arc.

This will become the next
vertex of the new triangle. PR
is equal in length to AC

5. Use the compasses to

measure the length of the side
AB in the original triangle.

6. Place the compasses' point

on P and make an arc in the
vicinity of where the third vertex
of the triangle will be.

All points along this arc are the

distance AB from P, but we do
not yet know exactly where on
this arc the the vertex is.

7. Use the compasses to

measure the length of the side
BC in the original triangle
 After doing this Your work should look like this

8. From point R, draw an arc

crossing the first. where these
intersect is the vertex Q of the
triangle

9. Finally, draw the three sides

of the new triangle PQ ,PR,
and QR.

10. Done. The blue triangle

PQR is congruent to the
triangle ABC.

Constructing an isosceles triangle given the base and one side

.

After doing this Your work should look like this

We start with two line segments AB

and CD that define the lengths of the
legs and the base of the triangle.
 After doing this Your work should look like this

1. Draw a point P that will become

one end of the base of the triangle.

2. Place the point of the compasses

on the point C and adjust the
compasses' width to the desired
length CD of the base of the finished
triangle

3. With the compasses' point on P,

make an arc.

4. Pick a point R anywhere on the

arc. This will become the other end of
the base of the triangle.

5. Draw the base line PR.

 After doing this Your work should look like this

6. With the compasses' point on B,

set its width to the desired side length
- AB

7. Without changing the compasses,

make two intersecting arcs - one from
P, the other from R to define the third
vertex, Q, of the triangle.

8. Draw the two side lines PQ and

RQ

9. Done. The triangle PQR is an

isosceles triangle.

Constructing an isosceles triangle given base and altitude

After doing this Your work should look like this

We start with two line segments AB and CD

that define the altitude and the base length
of the triangle.
 After doing this Your work should look like this

1. Draw a point P that will become one end

of the base of the triangle.

2. Place the point of the compasses on the

point C and adjust the compasses' width to
the desired length CD of the base of the
finished triangle

3. With the compasses' point on P, draw an

arc.

4. Pick a point R anywhere on the arc. This

will become the other end of the base of the
triangle.

5. Draw the base line PR.

In the next three steps, we form the perpendicular bisctor of the base
 After doing this Your work should look like this

6. With the compasses' width set roughly to

the base length (exact width is not
important), draw an arc on each side of the
base line from points P and R.

7. Draw a line through the two arc

intersections. This is the perpendicular
bisector of the base, dividing it into two
equal parts.

8. Set the compasses' width to the distance

from A to B. This is the desired altitude of
the triangle.

9. Place the point of the compasses on the

midpoint of the base line, and draw an arc
across the perpendicular drawn earlier. This
is the third vertex of the triangle.
 After doing this Your work should look like this

10. Draw the two side lines PQ and RQ

11. Done. The triangle PQR is an isosceles

triangle.

Constructing an isosceles triangle given a side and apex angle

.

After doing this Your work should look like this

Start with a angle BAC and line

segment FG. The length FG will be the
side lengths of the triangle and BAC
will be the angle at the top (apex) of
the triangle.

In Steps 1-8 we copy the apex angle. This is exactly the same as Copy an angle with compass
and straightedge.
 After doing this Your work should look like this

1. Make a point P that will be the apex

of the new triangle.

2. From P, draw a line. This will

become one leg of the new triangle, so
make it longer that FG.

 This line can go off in any

direction.
 It does not have to be parallel
to anything else.

3. Place the compasses on point A,

set to any convenient width.

4. Draw an arc across both sides of

the angle, creating the points J and K
as shown.
 After doing this Your work should look like this

5. Without changing the compasses'

width, place the compasses' point on
P and draw a similar arc there,
creating point M as shown.

6. Set the compasses on K and adjust

its width to point J.

7. Without changing the compasses'

width, move the compasses to M and
draw an arc across the first one,
creating point L where they cross.

8. Draw a line from P through L and

onwards further. This will become the
second side (leg) of the triangle so
make it longer than FG.

In the rest of the construction we set the lengths of the two legs and draw the base line.
 After doing this Your work should look like this

9.. Place the compasses on point F

and set its width to point G.

10. Without changing the width, place

the compasses on P and make an arc
across both lines, creating points Q
and R.

11. Draw a line from Q to R.

DONE. The triangle PQR is an isosceles triangle with each leg equal to the given FG in length,
and the apex angle is equal in measure to the given angle CAB.

Constructing an equilateral triangle.

 After doing this Your work should look like this

Start with the line segment

AB which is the length of
the sides of the desired
equilateral triangle.

1. Pick a point P that will

be one vertex of the
finished triangle.

2. Place the point of the

compasses on the point A
and set its drawing end to
point B. The compasses
are now set to the length
of the sides of the finished
triangle. Do not change it
from now on.

3. With the compasses'

point on P, make two arcs,
each roughly where the
other two vertices of the
triangle will be.
 After doing this Your work should look like this

4. On one of the arcs,

mark a point Q that will be
a second vertex of the
triangle. It does not matter
which arc you pick, or
where on the arc you draw
the point.

5. Place the compasses'

point on Q and draw an
arc that crosses the other
arc, creating point R.

6. Using the straightedge,

draw three lines linking the
points P,Q and R.

7. Done. The triangle

PQR is an equilateral
triangle. Its side length is
equal to the distance AB.
Constructing the medians of a triangle

After doing this Your work should look like this

We start with the triangle PQR.

The median of a triangle is a line

segment linking the midpoint of a side to
the opposite vertex. There are therefore
three possible medians, and this shows
one of them. The other two can be drawn
in a similar fashion.

In the first four steps we create the perpendicular bisector of PQ. See Constructing a
perpendicular bisector of a line segment. This establishes the midpoint of a side.

1. With the compasses' point on any

vertex, set the compasses' width to any
medium setting. In this example, we pick
point P and the side PQ.

2. Draw an arc on each side of the line.

 After doing this Your work should look like this

3. Without changing the compasses'

width, place the compasses' point on the
other end of the selected side, and make
two more arcs so they intersect with the
first two.

4. Draw a line between the points where

the arcs cross. This will bisect the triangle
side, dividing it into two equal parts. Label
this point S.

We then simply draw a line from this midpoint to the opposite vertex.

5. Draw a line between S and the vertex

opposite - in this case the point R.

6. Done. The blue line SR is one of the

three possible medians of the triangle
PQR.

The other two can be constructed in a

similar way

Constructing a 30-60-90 triangle.

 After doing this Your work should look like this

We start with a line segment PQ

that will be the hypotenuseof
the triangle..

First, we construct a 30° angle on one end of the hypotenuse. See Constructing a 30° angle.

1. Starting with the hypotenuse

line PQ, set the compasses on
P, and set its width to any
convenient width.

2. Draw a broad arc across PQ.

Label the point where it crosses
PQ as point S.

3. Without changing the

compasses' width, move the
compasses to the point S. Draw
a broad arc that crosses the first
one. Label the point where the
two arcs cross as point T.

4. Again without changing the

compasses' width, move the
compasses to the point T, and
draw an arc across the previous
arc, creating point R.

5. Draw a line from P through R

and continue it on beyond R to
create the second side of the
triangle.

Next, we construct a 60° angle on the other end of the hypotenuse. See Constructing a 60° angle.
 After doing this Your work should look like this

6. Place the compasses on

point Q and set it to any
convenient width.

7. Draw a broad arc across PQ

on the same side as point R.
Label the point where it crosses
PQ as point A.

8. With the compasses on A,

draw a second arc, crossing the
first arc at point B

9. Draw a line from Q, through

B and on to cross the line PR.
Label the intersection point C.

10. Done. The triangle PQC is

a 30-60-90 triangle.
Constructing a triangle given three sides (SSS).

After doing this Your work should look like this

Start with three line

segments that will be the
three sides of the triangle
ABC.

1. Mark a point A that will

be one vertex of the new
triangle.

2. Set the compasses'

width to the length of the
segment AB. This will
become the base of the
new triangle.

3. With the compasses'

point on A, make an arc
near the future vertex B of
the triangle.

4. Mark a point B on this

arc. This will become the
next vertex of the new
triangle.
 After doing this Your work should look like this

5. Set the compasses'

width to the length of the
line segment AC.

6. Place the compasses'

point on A and make an
arc in the vicinity of where
the third vertex of the
triangle (C) will be. All
points along this arc are
the distance AC from A,
but we do not yet quite
know exactly where the
vertex C is.

7. Use the compasses to

measure the length of the
segment BC, the length of
the third side of the
triangle.

8. From point B, draw an

arc crossing the first.
Where these intersect is
the vertex C of the
triangle

9. Finally, draw the three

sides AB, AC, and BC of
the new triangle.
 After doing this Your work should look like this

10. Done. The blue

triangle ABC has each
side congruent to the the
corresponding line
segment.

Constructing a triangle given two angles and included side (ASA)

After doing this Your work should look like this

Start with the given line

segment and two angles.

Note: The two given angles are only there to indicate

the measure of the two angles. The lines making up the given
angles have random lengths that have no significance in the
construction.

The first part of this construction (steps 1 - 4) is to copy a line segment to form one side of the
new triangle. (See Copying a Line Segment).

1. Mark a point A that will

be one vertex of the new
triangle.

2. Set the compasses'

width to the length of the
segment AB.
 After doing this Your work should look like this

3. With the compasses'

point on A, make an arc
near the future vertex B of
the triangle.

4. Mark a point B on this

arc. Then draw the line
AB. This will be one side
of the new triangle.

What we do now is essentially copy the two angles. (See Copying an Angle).

5. With the compasses at

any convenient width,
draw an arc across both
lines of the given angle A.

6. Without changing the

compasses' width, draw
an arc at point A on the
new triangle. The arc
must cross AB and also
cross the future side of
the triangle.

7. Set the compasses to

the arc width at the given
angle A. This the distance
between the points where
the arc intersects the
sides of the angle.
 After doing this Your work should look like this

8. Near point A draw an

arc in a similar position so
it crosses the arc drawn
earlier. This, in effect,
'copies' the measure of
the angle at P to the angle
at A.

9. Draw a line from A

through the point where
the arcs intersect. This
will become the second
side of the triangle. Draw
it long.

10. Repeat this process

at B. Copying the angle
measure from the given
angle B to the new
triangle at B. The point
where the lines intersect
is C, the third vertex of the
triangle.

Done. The blue triangle

ABC has the side and two
angle measures desired.

Constructing a triangle given two angles and included side (ASA)

After doing this Your work should look like this

Start with the given line

segment and two angles.

Note: The two given angles are only there to indicate

the measure of the two angles. The lines making up the given
angles have random lengths that have no significance in the
construction.

The first part of this construction (steps 1 - 4) is to copy a line segment to form one side of the
new triangle. (See Copying a Line Segment).
 After doing this Your work should look like this

1. Mark a point A that will

be one vertex of the new
triangle.

2. Set the compasses'

width to the length of the
segment AB.

3. With the compasses'

point on A, make an arc
near the future vertex B of
the triangle.

4. Mark a point B on this

arc. Then draw the line
AB. This will be one side
of the new triangle.

What we do now is essentially copy the two angles. (See Copying an Angle).

5. With the compasses at

any convenient width,
draw an arc across both
lines of the given angle A.
 After doing this Your work should look like this

6. Without changing the

compasses' width, draw
an arc at point A on the
new triangle. The arc
must cross AB and also
cross the future side of
the triangle.

7. Set the compasses to

the arc width at the given
angle A. This the distance
between the points where
the arc intersects the
sides of the angle.

8. Near point A draw an

arc in a similar position so
it crosses the arc drawn
earlier. This, in effect,
'copies' the measure of
the angle at P to the angle
at A.

9. Draw a line from A

through the point where
the arcs intersect. This
will become the second
side of the triangle. Draw
it long.

10. Repeat this process

at B. Copying the angle
measure from the given
angle B to the new
triangle at B. The point
where the lines intersect
is C, the third vertex of the
triangle.

Done. The blue triangle

ABC has the side and two
angle measures desired.

Constructing a triangle given two sides and included angle (SAS) .

 After doing this Your work should look like this

Start with two line segments

and the included angle.

1. Mark a point A that will be

one vertex of the new triangle.

2. Draw a ray from point A.

This will become the side AB
of the new triangle, so make it
longer than AB.

3. Set the compasses' width

to the length of the given side
AB.

4. Set the compasses on A,

and mark a point B on the ray
just drawn.
 After doing this Your work should look like this

5. With the compasses set to

any convenient width, from the
point A on the given angle,
draw an arc across both lines..

6. Without changing the

compasses' width, draw a
similar sized arc at point A on
the new triangle.

7. Set the compasses to the

arc width at the given angle A.
This the distance between the
points where the arc intersects
the sides of the angle.

8. Make a similar arc on the

new triangle so it crosses the
previous arc.
 After doing this Your work should look like this

9. Draw a ray from A, through

where the arcs intersect and
onwards. This will become
side AC of the triangle so
make it longer than AC.

10. Set the compasses' width

to the distance AC.

11. With the compasses on A,

make an arc across the
second ray, creating point C.

12. Draw the line BC, the third

side of the triangle
 After doing this Your work should look like this

Done, the triangle ABC has

the desired two side lengths
and included angle.

Constructing the perpendicular bisector of a line segment

After doing
Your work should look like this
this

Start with a line

segment PQ.

1 Place the
compasses on
one end of the
line segment.

2 Set the
compasses'
width to a
approximately
two thirds the
line length. The
actual width
does not
matter.

3 Without
changing the
compasses'
width, draw an
arc above and
below the line.
 4 Again without
changing the
compasses'
width, place the
compasses'
point on the the
other end of the
line. Draw an
arc above and
below the line
so that the arcs
cross the first
two.

5 Using a
straightedge,
draw a line
between the
points where
the arcs
intersect.

6 Done. This line

is perpendicular
to the first line
and bisects it
(cuts it at the
exact midpoint
of the line).

Constructing perpendicular at a point on a line

After doing this Your work should look like this

Start with a line and point K

on that line.
 After doing this Your work should look like this

1 Set the compasses' width to

a medium setting. The
actual width does not
matter.

2 Without changing the

compasses' width, mark a
short arc on the line at each
side of the point K, forming
the points P,Q. These two
points are thus the same
distance from K.

3 Increase the compasses to

almost double the width
(again the exact setting is
not important).

4 From P, mark off a short

arc above K

5 Without changing the

compasses' width repeat
from the point Q so that the
the two arcs cross each
other, creating the point R
 After doing this Your work should look like this

6 Using the straight edge,

draw a line from K to where
the arcs cross.

7 Done. The line just drawn is

a perpendicular to the line
at K

Constructing a perpendicular to a line through a point .

After doing this Your work should look like this

Start with a line and point R which is

not on that line.

Step 1 Place the compasses on the given

external point R.

Step 2 Set the compasses' width to a

approximately 50% more than the
distance to the line. The exact width
does not matter.

Step 3 Draw an arc across the line on each

side of R, making sure not to adjust
the compasses' width in between.
Label these points P and Q
 After doing this Your work should look like this

Step 4 At this point, you can adjust the

compasses' width. Recommended:
leave it as is.

From each point P,Q, draw an arc

below the line so that the arcs cross.

Step 5 Place a straightedge between R and

the point where the arcs intersect.
Draw the perpendicular line from R to
the line, or beyond if you wish.

Step 6 Done. This line is perpendicular to the

first line and passes through the point
R. It also bisects the segment PQ
(divides it into two equal parts)

Constructing a perpendicular at the end of a ray.

After doing this Your work should look like this

Start with a given

ray.

Step 1 Pick a point not on

the line, about 6 cm
from the endpoint of
the ray. Its exact
location is not
important. Label it
 D.

Step 2 Set the compasses

on point D and set
its width to the
endpoint of the ray.

Step 3 Draw an arc that

crosses the ray and
extends over and
above the ray
endpoint. (If you
prefer, draw a
complete circle.)

Step 4 Draw a diameter

through D from the
point where the arc
crosses the ray.

Step 5 Draw a line from the

ray's endpoint to the
endpoint of the
diameter line

Step 6 Done. The last line

drawn is
perpendicular to the
ray.
Dividing a line segment into equal parts

After doing this Your work should look like this

Start with a line segment AB that

we will divide up into 5 (in this
case) equal parts.

Step 1 From point A, draw a line

segment at an angle to the given
line, and about the same length.
The exact length is not important.

Step 2 Set the compasses on A, and set

its width to a bit less than one fifth
of the length of the new line.

Step 3 Step the compasses along the

line, marking off 5 arcs. Label the
last one C.

Step 4 With the compasses' width set to

CB, draw an arc from A just
below it.

Step 5 With the compasses' width set to

AC, draw an arc from B crossing
the one drawn in step 4. This
intersection is point D.

Step 6 Draw a line from D to B.

 After doing this Your work should look like this

Step 7 Using the same compasses'

width as used to step along AC,
step the compasses from D along
DB making 4 new arcs across the
line

Step 8 Draw lines between the

corresponding points along AC
and DB.

Step 9 Done. The lines divide the given

line segment AB in to
5congruent parts.

Constructing a parallel through a point.

After doing this Your work should look like this

Start with a line PQ and

a point R off the line.

1. Draw
a transverseline
through R and across
the line PQ at an angle,
forming the point J
where it intersects the
line PQ. The exact
angle is not important.
 After doing this Your work should look like this

2. With the compasses'

width set to about half
the distance between R
and J, place the point
on J, and draw an arc
across both lines.

3. Without adjusting
the compasses' width,
move the compasses to
R and draw a similar
arc to the one in step 2.

4. Set compasses'
width to the distance
where the lower arc
crosses the two lines.

5. Move the
compasses to where
the upper arc crosses
the transverse line and
draw an arc across the
upper arc, forming point
S.

6. Draw a straight line

through points R and S.
 After doing this Your work should look like this

Done. The line RS is

parallel to the line PQ

Constructing a parallel through a point - Rhombus method

After doing this Your work should look like this

Start with a line segment PQ

and a point R off the line.

1. Place the compasses on

point R and set its width to a
little more than the distance to
the line PQ.
The exact distance is not
important.

2. Draw a wide arc from the

right of R around so it crosses
the line PQ at two points.
Label the left point J
 After doing this Your work should look like this

3. Without adjusting the

compasses' width, move the
compasses to J and draw an
arc across the line PQ. Label
this point E.

4. Without adjusting the

compasses' width, move the
compasses to E and draw an
arc across the large arc to the
right of R. Label this point S.

5. Draw a straight line through

points R and S.

Done. The line RS is parallel to

the line PQ
Finding the center of a circle.

After doing this Your work should look like this

We start with a given circle.

1. Using a straightedge, draw any

two chords of the circle. For greatest
accuracy, avoid chords that are nearly
parallel.

2. Construct the perpendicular

bisector of one of the chords using the
method described in Constructing a
perpendicular bisector of a line
segment

3. Repeat for the other chord

 After doing this Your work should look like this

4. The point where the two lines

intersect is the center C of the circle.

Constructing a circle through 3 given points

After doing this Your work should look like this

We start with three given points. We will

construct a circle that passes through all
three.

1. (Optional*) Draw straight lines to create

the line segments AB and BC. Any two
pairs of the points will work.

* We draw the two lines to make it clear

when we later draw their perpendicular
bisectors, but it is not strictly necessary for
them to actually be there to do this.

2. Find the perpendicular bisector of one of

the lines. See Constructing the
Perpendicular Bisector of a Line Segment.
 After doing this Your work should look like this

3. Repeat for the other line.

4. The point where these two

perpendiculars intersect is the center of the
circle we desire.

5. Place the compasses' point on the

intersection of the perpendiculars and set
the compasses' width to one of the points
A,B or C. Draw a circle that will pass
through all three.

6. Done. The circle drawn is the only circle

that will pass through all three points.
Constructing the tangent at a point on a circle

After doing this Your work should look like this

We start with a point P somewhere on a given

circle, with center point O.

If the center is not given, you can use: "Finding

the center of a circle with compass and
straightedge or ruler",
or
"Finding the center of a circle with any right-
angled object".

1. Draw a straight line from the center O,

through the given point P and on beyond P.

In the following steps 2 - 6 we are constructing the perpendicular to the line OP at a point P. This
is the same procedure as described in Constructing a perpendicular at a point on a line.

2. Put the compasses' point on P and set it to

any width less than the distance OP. Then, on
the line just drawn, draw an arc on each side of
P. This creates the points Q and R as shown.

3. Set the compasses on Q and set it to any

width greater than the distance QP.
 After doing this Your work should look like this

4. Without changing the compasses' width,

draw an arc approximately in the position
shown on one side of P.

5. Without changing the compasses' width,

move the compasses to R and make another
arc across the first, creating point S.

6. Draw a line through P and S.

7. Done. The line PS just drawn is the tangent

to the circle O through point P.
Constructing the tangents to a circle from a point.

After doing this Your work should look like this

We start with a given circle with center O,

and a point P outside the circle.

1. Draw a straight line between the center O

of the given circle and the given point P.

2. Find the midpoint of this line by

constructing the line's perpendicular bisector.

(See Constructing the Perpendicular Bisector

of a Line Segment.

3. Place the compasses on the midpoint just

constructed, and set its width to the center O
of the circle.

4. Without changing the width, draw an arc

across the circle in the two possible places.
These are the contact points J, K for the
tangents.
 After doing this Your work should look like this

5. Draw the two tangent lines from P

through J and K.

6. Done. The two lines just drawn are

tangential to the given circle and pass
through P.

Constructing the incircle of a triangle.

After doing this Your work should look like this

We start with the given triangle.

The steps 1-6 establish the incenter and are identical to those in Constructing the Incenter of a
Triangle

1. Place the compasses' point on

any of the triangle's vertices.
Adjust the compasses to a
medium width setting. The exact
width is not important.
 After doing this Your work should look like this

2. Without changing the

compasses' width, strike
an arcacross each adjacent side.

3. Change the compasses' width if

desired, then from the point where
each arc crosses the side, draw
two arcs inside the triangle so that
they cross each other, using the
same compasses' width for each.

4. Using the straightedge, draw a

line from the vertex of the triangle
to where the last two arcs cross.

5. Repeat all of the above at any

other vertex of the triangle. You
will now have two new lines drawn.

6. Where the two new lines

intersect, mark a point as the
incenter of the triangle.

Optional Step Repeat steps 1-4 for the third vertex. This will convince you that the three angle
 After doing this Your work should look like this

bisectors do, in fact, always intersect at a single point. But two are enough to find that point.

7. Draw the perpendicular from

the incenter to a side of the
triangle. Label the point where it
meets the side M.

See Constructing a Perpendicular

from a Point for this procedure.

8. Place the compasses on the

incenter and set the width to point
M. This is the radius of the incircle,
sometimes called the inradius of
the triangle.

9. Draw a full circle.

10. Done. This is the incircle of

the triangle

Finding the foci of an ellipse

After doing this Your work should look like this

Start with a given ellipse with its major and

minor axes shown.
 After doing this Your work should look like this

1. With the compasses' point on the center,

set the compasses' width to half the width
(major axis) of the ellipse.

2. Move the compasses' point to one end of

the minor axis of the ellipse and draw two
arcs across the major axis.

3. Where these arcs cross the major axis

are the foci of the ellipse. Label them F1,
F2.

4. Done. The two points F1, F2, define the

foci of the ellipse.

Constructing the circumcircle of a triangle

After doing this Your work should look like this

We start with a triangle ABC.

 After doing this Your work should look like this

1. Find the bisector of one of the triangle sides.

Any one will do. See Constructing the
Perpendicular Bisector of a Line Segment.

2. Repeat for the another side. Any one will do.

Optional step. Repeat for the third side. This will convince you that the three bisectors do, in
fact, intersect at a single point. But two are enough to find that point.

3. The point where these two perpendiculars

intersect is the triangle's circumcenter, the
center of the circle we desire. Note: This point
may lie outside the triangle. This is normal.

4. Place the compasses' point on the

intersection of the perpendiculars and set the
compasses' width to one of the points A,B or C.
Draw a circle that will pass through all three.

5. Done. The circle drawn is the triangle's

circumcircle, the only circle that will pass
through all three of its vertices.
Constructing a square.

After doing this Your work should look like this

We start with a given line segment

AB> This will become one side of the
square.

Note. Steps 1 through 5 construct a perpendicular to line AB at the point B. This is the same
construction as Constructing the perpendicular at a point on a line

1. Extend the line AB to the right.

2. Set the compasses on B and any

convenient width. Scribe an arc on
each side of B, creating the two points
F and G.

3. With the compasses on G and any

convenient width, draw an arc above
the point B.

4. Without changing the compasses'

width, place the compasses on F and
draw an arc above B, crossing the
previous arc, and creating point H
 After doing this Your work should look like this

5. Draw a line from B through H.

This line is perpendicular to AB, so the

angle ABH is a right angle (90°);

This will become the second side of

the square

We now create four sides of the square the same length as AB

6. Set the compasses on A and set its

width to AB. This width will be held
unchanged as we create the square's
other three sides.

7. Draw an arc above point A.

8. Without changing the width, move

the compasses to point B. Draw an arc
across BH creating point C - a vertex
of the square.
 After doing this Your work should look like this

9. Without changing the width, move

the compasses to C. Draw an arc to
the left of C across the exiting arc,
creating point D - a vertex of the
square.

10. Draw the lines CD and AD

Done. ABCD is a square where each side has a length AB

Constructing a square inscribed in a circle

After doing this Your work should look like this

Start with the given circle, center O.

If the circle center point is not given,

you can construct the center using the
method shown in Finding the center of
a circle.
 After doing this Your work should look like this

1 Mark a point A on the circle. This will

become one of the vertices of the
square.

2 Draw a diameter line from the point A,

through the center and on to cross the
circle again, creating point C.

3 Set the compass on A and set the

width to a little more than the distance
to O.
 After doing this Your work should look like this

4 Draw an arc above and below O.

5 Move the compass to C and repeat.

6 Draw a line through where the arc

pairs cross, making it long enough to
touch the circle at top and bottom,
creating the new points B and D.

This is a diameter at right angles to the

first one AC.
 After doing this Your work should look like this

7 Draw a line between each successive

pairs of points A, B, C, D

Done. ABCD is a square inscribed in

the given circle.
 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
NORTHWEST SAMAR STATE UNIVERSITY
CALBAYOG CITY

GEOMETRIC
CONSTRUCTIO
N

SUBMITTED TO:

FEDERICO T. ALBAŇA

PROFESSOR

SUBMITTED BY:

JEROME C. DIAZ
MAST-MATH