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Constructing a perpendicular bisector of a line segment
Instructions Click on 'Next' to go through the construction one step at a time, or click on 'Run' to let it run without stopping.
(If there is no image below, see support page.)
The animated diagram above shows how to construct a
perpendicular bisector using just a compass and straightedge.
Note that the straight edge can be a ruler, but it is not used to actually measure anything, just to draw straight lines.
Step-by-step Instructions
| Step 1 |
Place the compass on one end of the line segment. |
| Step 2 |
Set the compass width to a approximately two thirds the line length. The actual width does not matter. |
| Step 3 |
Without changing the compass width, draw an arc above and below the line. |
| Step 4 |
Again without changing the compass width, place the compass point on the the other end of the line. Draw an
arc above and below the line so that the arcs cross the first two. |
| Step 5 |
Using a straightedge, draw a line between the points where the arcs intersect. |
| Step 6 |
This line is perpendicular to the first line and bisects it (cuts it at the exact midpoint of the line). |
Try it yourself
Click here for a printable worksheet containing three line bisection problems.
When you get to the page, use the browser print command to print as many as you wish. The printed output is not copyright.
Other constructions
Lines
Angles
Triangles
Triangle Centers
Circles, Arcs and Ellipses
Non-Euclidean constructions
(C) 2007 Copyright John Page
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