CONSTRUCTION OF

GEOMETRIC FIGURES
 OUTCOMES
At the end the lecture students should be able to:

Construct geometric figures using appropriate

instruments
Conduct geometry investigations on properties of
figures

WHAT IS IN THE CAPS
Why teach constructions
There are studies which shows that learners who can construct perform
better in geometry
While the CAPS document for IP does not explicitly specify the teaching
of constructions but it emphasise the development of visualisation of
geometric figures and that is where constructions comes in
GEOMETRIC CONSTRUCTION OF
FIGURES
Construction" in Geometry means to draw shapes, angles or lines
accurately.
These constructions use only compass, straightedge (i.e. ruler) and a
pencil. This is the "pure" form of geometric construction: no numbers
involved!
When we do constructions in geometry, we use traditional approach that
uses only TWO instruments, a compass and a straightedge.
 Since a compass measures the radius of a circle, and radii of a circle are
congruent, then we can use it to construct congruent segments
A straightedge is used to connect to points.
A ruler may not be used to measure distances in constructions.
The focus is on Geometry construction because this section is
always poorly done and learners score very low marks on this
section of their work in every assessment.
CONSTRUCTION OF GEOMETRIC FIGURES
Use a pencil, ruler, protractor and a pair of compasses to accurately:
a) Bisect line segments and angles.
b) Draw perpendicular lines at a given point or from a given point.
• Construct angles ofwithout using a protractor.
By construction investigate the properties of:
a) the sides, interior and exterior angles of triangles.
b) Concurrent line segments in triangles.
c) the sides, angles and diagonals of quadrilaterals and other polygons.
Construction Activity
Construction 1 and 2
Definitions
a line segment is a part of a line that is bounded by two distinct end
points, and contains every point on the line between its endpoints.
An angle can be considered the figure formed by two rays extending from
the same point. An angle measures the amount of turn
Copying a line segment Bisecting a line segment
HOW TO COPY AN ANGLE BISECTING AN ANGLE
HOW TO CONSTRUCT AN ANGLE HOW TO CONSTRUCT AN ANGLE
OF OF
Constructing
perpendicular lines HOW TO CONSTRUCT
CONSTRUCTING // LINES SUM OF ANGLES IN A
Sum of 2 opposite interior angles in and exterior angle of
a
SUM OF INTERIOR ANGLES OF A POLYGON
GENERALISATION
a)Can we generalise now? Yes
b) What pattern do you notice? Sum of angles in a polygon = Sum of
sums angles of triangles formed.
c) Write out the observed pattern if the number of sides of a polygon
is ‘n’. No of triangles formed = (n-2)!
d) The sum of all interior angles in a polygon with ‘n’ sides is
(n-2) x
DIFFERENT WAYS OF CONSTRUCTING PARM
MINIMUM CONDITIONS FOR CONGRUENCY
What is meant by congruency? Figures with the same shape and same
size
What is the smallest amount of information that is required to prove two
triangles are congruent? 3 pieces of information (compare sides and
angles)
In how many ways can we prove this? SSS, SAS, AAS, RHS
Which set of pieces of information cannot be used to prove congruency?
AAA