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We start with a triangle ABC.
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| 1. Find the bisector
of one of the triangle sides. Any one will do. See
Constructing the Perpendicular Bisector of a Line Segment. |
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| 2. Repeat for the another side. Any one will do. |
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| Optional step. Repeat for the third side. This will convince you that the three bisectors do, in fact, intersect at a single point.
But two are enough to find that point. |
| 3. The point where these two perpendiculars intersect is the triangle's circumcenter, the center of the circle we desire.
Note: This point may lie outside the triangle. This is normal.
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| 4. Place the compass point on the intersection of the perpendiculars and set the compass width to
one of the points A,B or C. Draw a circle that will pass through all three. |
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| 5. Done. The circle drawn is the triangle's circumcircle, the only circle that will pass through all three of its vertices. |
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