Construct Me!
Use the Compass Tool to make a circle with a center at A and a radius the length of A to B.
- Click the tool at the top.
- Click Point A
- Click Point B
- Move the mouse, and the mouse is now the center of the circle.
- Click Point A to place the circle you made there.
Construct a Segment CD congruent to Segment AB
Step 1: Use the compass to create a circle with a Center at Point A and a radius the length of Segment AB.
Step 2: Move the circle down to Point C, creating a circle with a center at Point C.
Step 3: Place a new Point D, any where on Circle C.
Step 4: Construct a segment from Point C to Point D.
Step 5: Use the measurement tool to confirm that Segment CD is the same length as Segment AB.
Construct a Perpendicular Bisector to Segment AB
Step 1: Use the compass to create a circle with a Radius the length of AC and a center at Point A.
Step 2: Use the compass to create a circle with a Radius the length of AC and a center at Point B.
Step 3: Use the intersection tool to mark the intersection points of Circle A and Circle B.
- Move your mouse to Circle A and it will become bold, click it, and then do the same to Circle B and then the intersection points will appear.
- Click Line DE and then Click Segment AB and the angle tool will measure the angle between the two lines.
- Click Line DE and Click Segment AB and the point of intersection will appear as Point F.
Construct a Line Parallel to Line AB
Step 1: Connect points C and D to make Line CD.
Step 2: Use the Circle Radius tool to construct a circle with a center at Point D and a radius of 2.
Step 3: Use the Circle Radius tool to construct a circle with a center at Point C and a radius of 2.
Step 4: Use the intersection tool to mark the intersections of Circle D with Line CD and the intersection of Circle D with Line AB.
Step 5: Use the intersection tool to mark the intersections of Circle C with Line CD.
Step 6: Use the Compass to measure the distance between points F and H and move the circle up to have a center at Point I.
- Your letters might be different than mine... you're using the compass to create a circle with a radius the length of the acute angle of Circle D and then moving it up to have a center at the point on line CD furthest away from segment AB.
- Your letters might be different, point L should be the point that is the intersection of Circle I and Circle C, on the right of Line CD.
Constructing Angle Bisector of Angle CAB
Follow these steps to bisect an angle:
Step 1: Using the POINT TOOL, mark point D on segment AB
Step 2: Using the COMPASS TOOL, create a circle with radius AD and center point A
Step 3: Using the POINT TOOL, mark point E where circle A intersects segment AC
Step 4: Using the COMPASS TOOL, create a circle with the radius DE and center point D.
Step 5: Using the COMPASS TOOL, create a circle with the radius DE and center point E
Step 6: Using the SEGMENT TOOL, draw a segment from point A to the intersection of circles D and E
Process Questions:
1. How did you find the activity?
2. Were you able to construct all line segment and angle bisector, perpendicular and parallel lines correctly?
3. If not, what do you think is the hindering factor to it?
4. What do you think the importance of compass and straightedge in constructing segment and angle bisector, and constructing parallel and perpendicular lines?