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Basic Geometric Constructions

Straightedge can only draw straight lines between two points and extend lines indefinitely in both directions. Compass can draw circles with a given radius around a point. A collapsible compass forgets the size of its opening when moved, while a regular compass can retain openings. Geometric constructions using straightedge and collapsible compass are called Euclidean constructions. Some basic Euclidean constructions include bisecting angles and lines, drawing perpendicular lines, constructing triangles from given side lengths, and copying angles. Special angles and lengths can be constructed through these methods.

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Kitty Cheung
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159 views

Basic Geometric Constructions

Straightedge can only draw straight lines between two points and extend lines indefinitely in both directions. Compass can draw circles with a given radius around a point. A collapsible compass forgets the size of its opening when moved, while a regular compass can retain openings. Geometric constructions using straightedge and collapsible compass are called Euclidean constructions. Some basic Euclidean constructions include bisecting angles and lines, drawing perpendicular lines, constructing triangles from given side lengths, and copying angles. Special angles and lengths can be constructed through these methods.

Uploaded by

Kitty Cheung
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Straightedge

Recall Postulate 1 and 2:


Postulate 1 To draw a straight line from any point to
any point.
Postulate 2 To extend a finite straight line indefinitely
in both directions.
Straightedge is the tool that can only do what Postulate
1 and 2 describe. Straightedge does not have any marking and cannot be use
for measuring length.
Compass
Compass is a V-shaped drawing tool with a sharp point on
one arm and a pencil on another arm. A hinge joins the two
arms so that the opening of the arms is adjustable.
Postulate 3 states exactly what a compass can do-draw a
circle centered at a given point with a given radius.
However, the compass that we usually use has an
additional function-we can keep the opening fixed when the
compass leaves that plane and carry to another location for construction. In
other words, we can draw a circle with radius equal to the length of any given
finite straight line. It is called a regular compass.
The compass that can only do what is stated in Postulate 3 is called a
collapsible compass. It forgets the size of the angle of the opening when it
leaves the plane i.e. you cannot keep the opening fixed when the compass
leaves the plane.
Therefore, a geometric construction using straightedge and collapsible
compass is also called a Euclidean construction.
Note: any geometric construction that can be done by straightedge and
regular compass can also be done by straightedge and collapsible compass.
E.g. to draw a circle centered at a given point with radius equal to the
length of a given finite straight line by a collapsible compass, we first use
Proposition 2 to copy the finite straight line to the given point. Then draw a
circle centered at the given point through another endpoint of the newly
constructed finite straight line.
Proposition 9-Bisect an Angle.
Proposition 1-To construct an equilateral triangle on a given finite
straight line
Proposition 2-To copy a finite straight line to a given point
Proposition 3-Given two unequal finite straight lines. Cut off the longer
straight line to a straight line with length equal to the shorter one
The line that bisects an angle is called the angle bisector. In order to do
this, we apply Proposition 1. Create a equilateral triangle first and then an
angle bisector (S.S.S.)

Proposition 10-Perpendicular Bisector


The line that bisects a finite straight line and is perpendicular to the given
straight line is called the perpendicular bisector. To achieve this, we use
Proposition 1 to construct two equilateral triangles first.
Proposition 11 and 12-Perpendicular Line
Proposition 11 - given a straight line with a point on it. Construct the
line through this point such that it is perpendicular to the given line.
Proposition 12 - Given a straight line with a point not on it. Construct
the line through this point such that it is perpendicular to the given line.
Proposition 22-Construct a Triangle
Proposition 22-Construct a triangle out of three given finite straight
lines. It is necessary that the sum of any two straight lines must be greater
than the remaining one.
The second part of Proposition 22 is so-called triangle inequality,
which is proved in Proposition 20.
Proposition 23- copy a given angle
Proposition 31-Parallel Line
Proposition 31-to draw a straight line through a given point parallel to a given
straight line.
Summary
Geometric constructions using straightedge and collapsible compass
are caked Euclidean constructions
Thanks to Proposition 2 in Book I, any geometric construction that can
be done by straightedge and regular compass is also a Euclidean
construction
The following are some basic Euclidean constructions in Book I:
o To bisect an angle
o To bisect a finite straight line
o To construct a line through a given point such that it is
perpendicular to a given line
o To construct a triangle with three given lengths of sides
o To copy an angle
Some special angles and lengths can be drawn by Euclidean
construction

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