Construction
O-Level Mathematics Notes — Geometric Constructions and Loci
1. What You Need
Constructions must be done accurately using only a ruler (straight edge) and a pair of compasses, plus a
pencil and protractor where stated. A construction is accurate and examinable only if the compass arcs
used to build it are left clearly visible on the diagram — do not rub them out.
Always work with a sharp pencil, keep the compass setting fixed while swinging an arc, and label all given
points and any new points you construct.
2. Basic Constructions
2.1 Perpendicular Bisector of a Line Segment AB
1 Open the compasses to a radius more than half of AB.
2 With the point on A, draw an arc above and below the line.
3 Keeping the same radius, put the point on B and draw two more arcs to cross the first two.
4 Join the two points where the arcs cross with a straight line. This line is the perpendicular bisector —
it cuts AB at 90° and passes through its midpoint M.
Fig 1: Perpendicular bisector of AB
2.2 Bisector of an Angle
1 With the point of the compasses on the vertex O, draw an arc that crosses both arms of the angle.
2 From each of these two crossing points, draw an arc of equal radius inside the angle so that the two
arcs intersect.
3 Join O to the point where these arcs cross. This line bisects the angle (splits it into two equal angles).
Fig 2: Bisecting angle O
2.3 An Angle of 60°
1 Draw a straight line and mark a point O on it, with B further along the line.
2 With centre O and any radius, draw an arc crossing OB.
3 Keeping the same radius, move the compass point to where that arc crosses OB, and draw a second
arc crossing the first.
4 Join O to the point where the two arcs cross. The angle formed is exactly 60°.
5 To get 30°, bisect the 60° angle (method 2.2). To get 90°, construct 60° then bisect the remaining
60° on the other side, or use method 2.5. To get 45°, bisect a 90° angle.
Fig 3: Constructing a 60° angle
2.4 Perpendicular From a Point P to a Line (P not on the line)
1 With centre P, draw an arc that crosses the line at two points, Q1 and Q2.
2 With centre Q1 (radius more than half of Q1Q2), draw an arc below the line.
3 With the same radius and centre Q2, draw another arc to cross the first below the line.
4 Join P to the point where these two arcs cross. This line is perpendicular to the given line and passes
through P.
Fig 4: Perpendicular from P to the line
2.5 Perpendicular at a Point X on a Line
1 With centre X and any radius, mark two points A and B on the line, one on each side of X, so that XA
= XB.
2 Open the compasses wider than XA, and with centre A draw an arc above the line.
3 With the same radius and centre B, draw another arc to cross the first.
4 Join X to the point where the arcs cross. This line is perpendicular to the given line at X.
Fig 5: Perpendicular at X
2.6 A Line Through a Point Parallel to a Given Line
Method (using equal alternate angles): Draw a straight line through the given point P that crosses the
given line, forming an angle. Using the angle-copying method (draw an arc across both arms of the angle
at the crossing point, transfer that arc and its chord length to the same position on the line at P), construct
an equal angle at P on the same transversal. The new line drawn at P is parallel to the original line, since
equal alternate angles are formed.
2.7 Constructing a Triangle
Given three sides (SSS): draw the longest side as a base line. From one end, open the compasses to
the length of a second side and draw an arc. From the other end, open the compasses to the length of
the third side and draw a second arc to cross the first. Join both ends of the base to this crossing point.
Given two sides and the included angle (SAS): draw one given side. At one end, use a protractor (or an
angle construction) to mark the given angle. Measure the second given side along the new arm. Join
the two free ends to complete the triangle.
Given two angles and a side (ASA): draw the given side. At each end, construct the given angles using
a protractor or compass construction. Extend both new arms until they meet — this meeting point is the
third vertex.
3. Loci
A locus (plural: loci) is the set of all points that satisfy a given rule or condition. In O-Level constructions,
loci are built using the basic constructions from Section 2. There are four standard loci to know.
3.1 Locus of points a fixed distance from a fixed point O
1 This locus is a circle with centre O and radius equal to the given distance.
Fig 6: Circle, radius = fixed distance from O
3.2 Locus of points equidistant from two fixed points A and B
1 This locus is the perpendicular bisector of the line AB (Section 2.1).
Fig 7: Perpendicular bisector of AB
3.3 Locus of points equidistant from two straight lines (that meet or would meet)
1 This locus is the bisector of the angle between the two lines (Section 2.2). Where two lines cross,
there are two angle bisectors, at right angles to each other.
Fig 8: Angle bisector between two lines
3.4 Locus of points a fixed distance d from a straight line
1 This locus is a pair of straight lines, each parallel to the given line and a perpendicular distance d
from it, one on each side.
Fig 9: Two parallels, each distance d from the line
3.5 Combined (Compound) Loci
Many exam questions ask for a region or a point that satisfies two or more conditions at once. Construct
each locus separately, using a different construction for each condition, then find where they intersect (for
a point) or overlap (for a region).
Worked example: A goat is tied to a post at a corner of a rectangular field by a rope 6 m long. It can also
only graze within 4 m of a straight fence running along one side of the field. Shade the region where the
goat can graze.
Step 1: Draw an arc of radius 6 cm (using scale 1 cm : 1 m) centred on the post — this is the locus of
points the rope allows.
Step 2: Draw a line parallel to the fence, 4 cm away (using the same scale) — this is the locus of points
within reach of the fence.
Step 3: Shade the region that satisfies both conditions at once, i.e. inside the arc AND within the strip
near the fence (and inside the field boundary, if relevant).
4. Common Exam Wording and What It Means
Instruction What to construct
"Construct the locus of points equidistant from A and B" Perpendicular bisector of AB
"Construct the locus of points equidistant from lines AB and
Bisector
AC" of angle BAC
"Construct the locus of points 5 cm from point P" Circle, centre P, radius 5 cm
"Construct the locus of points 3 cm from the line XY" Two lines parallel to XY, each 3 cm from it
"Shade the region nearer to A than to B" Shade the side of the perpendicular bisector of AB that contains A
"Shade the region within 4 cm of P and nearer to line l than
Draw
linethe
m" circle locus and the angle-bisector locus, then shade the ov
5. Exam Tips
● Never rub out your construction arcs — marks are awarded for showing correct method.
● Always state the scale you are using (e.g. 1 cm represents 1 m) before starting a scale drawing.
● Use a sharp pencil and keep your compass point firmly on the paper so the radius doesn't slip.
● Read the question carefully to see whether you must construct a locus (a line/curve) or shade a
region.
● For compound loci, construct each locus fully first, then identify the overlap or intersection last.
● Check whether an angle bisector question wants the internal or external bisector — usually internal.
6. Practice Questions
1 Draw a line AB = 8 cm. Construct its perpendicular bisector and label the midpoint M.
2 Draw an angle of 70° using a protractor. Construct its bisector.
3 Using compasses only, construct an angle of 60°, then bisect it to obtain 30°.
4 Construct triangle PQR with PQ = 7 cm, QR = 5 cm and PR = 6 cm, using compasses only.
5 Draw a line and mark a point P 4 cm above it. Construct the perpendicular from P to the line.
6 Two points A and B are 6 cm apart. Construct the locus of points that are equidistant from A and B,
and shade the region nearer to A than to B.
7 A dog is tied by a rope of length 4 m to a corner of a rectangular kennel run measuring 6 m by 5 m.
Using a scale of 1 cm : 1 m, construct the locus showing where the dog can reach, given that it
cannot leave the run.
8 Lines l and m cross at point O, making an angle of 50°. Construct the locus of points equidistant from
l and m.