11.
GEOMETRIC CONSTRUCTIONS
GEOMETRIC INSTRUMENTS
In this chapter, we will learn how to construct plane We may confirm this by measurement with the
figures. A construction is an accurate drawing, the protractor. We can also show that the triangle ABC is
accuracy of which depends on the geometrical equilateral and all its interior angles are equal to 600.
instruments used to create the drawing. In geometry,
when we are asked to construct a plane figure, we are
expected to use the appropriate geometrical
instruments. A pair of compasses, a ruler, a set-
square and a protractor are common instruments used
in drawing and constructing plane figures.
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Constructing Angles
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Before we can construct figures we must learn to
construct angles using only a pair of compasses, a
pencil and a ruler.
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Constructing an angle of 60°
Constructing an angle of 120°
We shall construct the angle at the point A, on the
straight line shown below.
at To construct an angle of 1200, we may construct an
angle of 600 and use the adjacent angle at the point of
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1. With center A, draw an arc, cutting
the straight line at B. construction. This is because the angle in a straight
line is 1800. Alternatively, we may follow the above
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steps for constructing a 600 angle then mark off
another 600 with the pair of compasses using the
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same radii. Both methods are shown below.
Construct 600 and use the adjacent angle.
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2. With center B and the same radius as
before, draw another arc as to cut the
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first arc at C.
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Construct two adjacent angles of 600.
0
3. Join A to C. The angle CAB = 60
1200
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Constructing the bisector of an angle
2. With center B and the same radius, draw an arc to
We wish to bisect the angle at A. cut the first arc at C.
1. With center A, draw an arc to cut the arms
of the angle, say, at B and at C.
3. With center C and again the same radius, draw
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another arc to cut the first arc at D.
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2. With center B and afterwards C and the
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same radii, draw two arcs to cut each other at
D. Join A to D.
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4. With center C and afterwards D and the same
radii, draw two arcs to cut at E.
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ˆ = CAD
AD will be the bisector of  , that is BAD ˆ .
It is advisable to confirm this by measuring the two
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angles with the protractor.
Constructing an angle of 90°
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To construct an angle of 900 at A, we carry out the Join E to A. EA is the bisector of the 600 angle DAC.
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following steps. The angle EAB = 600 +300 = 900.
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1. Place the compass point at A and draw an almost
semi-circular arc so as to cut the straight line at B.
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Constructing angles of 45° and 300 2. With center B and the same radius, we
draw another arc to cut the first arc at C and
If we wish to construct an angle of 450 we first at D.
construct a 900 angle and then bisect it. Similar, if we
wish to construct an angle of 300, we first construct a
600 angle and then bisect it.
Drawing a line of a given length
During construction, if we have to draw a line,
AB = 6.5 cm long, we are expected to draw a line
longer than 6.5 cm. Then with our ruler and using the
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pair of compasses, we would cut off 6.5 cm, clearly
showing the arcs. This is illustrated in the diagram,
shown below.
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3. Join C to D. Let CD meet AB at M. CD
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is the perpendicular bisector of AB.
Constructing the perpendicular bisector of a
straight line at
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If AB is a straight line and M is the midpoint of AB,
then an infinite number of straight lines that may pass
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through M and all are bisectors of AB. However, only
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one of these lines will cut AB at right angles and this
is called the perpendicular bisector of AB. Hence,
there is only one perpendicular bisector of a straight
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line.
We wish to construct the perpendicular bisector of
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the straight line, AB.
We may confirm all of the above by simple
1. With center, A, and a radius of more than measurements using our geometrical apparatus.
half the length of AB, draw an almost semi-
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circular arc to cut AB. Constructing the perpendicular to a line from
a point outside the line
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We are given a straight line and a point, P, that is not
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on the line. We wish to construct a perpendicular to
the straight line, passing through P.
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1. With center P, draw an arc to cut the given line Constructing a line passing through a given
at two points A and B. point and parallel to a given line
The diagram below shows a straight line, AB and a
point P, not on the line. We wish to construct a line
passing through P, parallel to AB.
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2. With center A and afterwards B and the same
radii draw two arcs to cut at C. 1. Draw a line from P to any point on the line AB,
meeting AB at say, C.
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2. At C, we draw an arc to cut CP and CA at D and
at E.
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3. Join P to C and let the line PC meet the line
AB at X.
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3. With center P, we draw an arc with the same
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radius as that of CE (or CD). This arc cuts PC at F
The angle at X is 90º, and so PX is the perpendicular
from P to AB, meeting AB at X.
We may confirm this by measurement.
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Solution
4. With center F, we draw an arc with the same Construct the line BC = 4 cm. With center B and then
radius as that of DE. Let the arc cut the previous C and a radius of 5 cm, draw two arcs to cut at A.
arc at G.
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5. We join P to G. The line PG is parallel to AB.
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With center A, draw an arc to cut BC, then bisect this
arc by to locate the point F. Join AF.
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Constructing plane figures
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We are now in a position to construct any figure
given basic information about it. It is good practice to
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draw a sketch and plan the sequence of steps that are
required to produce the figure.
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Constructing triangles
To construct a triangle, we must be given three out of
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its six elements. They can be any of the following:
1. Three sides
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2. Two sides and the included angle
3. Two angles and the side containing the
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angles and which is called the corresponding
side
Example 1
Construct DABC with BC = 4 cm and AB = AC =
5cm. Construct AD such that AD meets BC at D and (i) AD = 5 cm (ii) angle ABC = 680
is perpendicular to BC.
Measure and state
(i) the length of AD
ˆ .
(ii) the size of ABC
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Example 2 Example 3
Construct a triangle ABC with AB = 4.5cm, Construct triangle EFG, in which, EG = 4 cm,
BC= 6.5 cm and ABC ˆ = 60° . ˆ = 60° and EGF
FEG ˆ = 90° . Measure and state
Measure and state the length of AC. (i) the length of EF
(ii) the length of FG.
Solution
ˆ = 60° .
Draw AB = 4.5 cm. At B, construct ABC Solution
Cut off BC = 6.5cm.
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(i) EF = 8 cm (by measurement)
Join A to C so as to complete the triangle.
(ii) FG = 7 (by measurement)
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Constructing a parallelogram
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A parallelogram has opposite sides parallel and
equal. Once two alternate sides are given we do not
need any more information on the sides. The opposite
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angles of a parallelogram are also equal, so we need
to know only one interior angle to construct the
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parallelogram.
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Example 4
Construct the parallelogram PQRS in which
PQ = 7 cm, QR = 5 cm and Q ˆ = 120°. Measure
and state the lengths of both diagonals of PQRS.
AC = 6 cm
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Solution
Construct PQ = 7 cm. At Q, construct an angle of 1200.
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Extend the constructed line at Q (if necessary) and cut off QR = 5 cm.
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Draw an arc with center P, 5 cm long and from R draw an arc 7 cm long. The two arcs will then intersect at S.
[The opposite sides of a parallelogram are both parallel and equal in length.]
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PR = 10.3cm, (correct to 1 decimal place), by measurement.
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QS = 6.4 cm, (correct, to 1 decimal place), by measurement.
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