Math Open Reference
| After doing this | Your work should look like this |
|---|---|
| Start with the line segment AB which is the length of the sides of the desired equilateral triangle. |  |
| 1. Pick a point P that will be one vertex of the finished triangle. |  |
| 2. Place the point of the compass on the point A and set it's drawing end to point B. The compass is now set to the length of the sides of the finished triangle. Do not change it from now on. |  |
| 3. With the compass point on P, make two arcs, each roughly where the other two vertices of the triangle will be. |  |
| 4. On one of the arcs, mark a point Q that will be a second vertex of the triangle. It does not matter which arc you pick, or where on the arc you draw the point. |  |
| 5. Place the compass point on Q and draw an arc that crosses the other arc, creating point R. |  |
| 6. Using the straightedge, draw three lines linking the points P,Q and R. |  |
| 7. Done. The triangle PQR is an equilateral triangle. Its side length is equal to the distance AB. |  |