On this page we show how to construct (draw) a 90 degree angle with compass and straightedge or ruler. There are various ways to do this, but in this construction we use a property of Thales Theorem. We create a circle where the vertex of the desired right angle is a point on a circle. Thales Theorem says that any diameter of a circle subtends a right angle to any point on the circle.
Printable step-by-step instructions
The above animation is available as a printable step-by-step instruction sheet, which can be used for making handouts or when a computer is not available.
Explanation of method
This is actually the same construction as Constructing a perpendicular at the endpoint of a ray. Another way to do it is to- construct a perpendicular at a point on a line or
- construct a perpendicular to a line from an external point
Proof
This construction works by using Thales theorem. It creates a circle where the apex of the desired right angle is a point on a circle.
| Argument | Reason | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The line segment AB is a diameter of the circle center D | AB is a straight line through the center. |
| 2 | Angle ACB has a measure of 90°. | The diameter of a circle always subtends an angle of 90° to any point (C) on the circle. See Thales theorem. |
- Q.E.D
Try it yourself
Click here for a printable worksheet containing two problems to try. 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 pages on this site
Lines
- Introduction to constructions
- Copy a line segment
- Sum of n line segments
- Difference of two line segments
- Perpendicular bisector of a line segment
- Perpendicular from a line at a point
- Perpendicular from a line through a point
- Perpendicular from endpoint of a ray
- Divide a segment into n equal parts
- Parallel line through a point (angle copy)
- Parallel line through a point (rhombus)
- Parallel line through a point (translation)
Angles
- Bisecting an angle
- Copy an angle
- Construct a 30° angle
- Construct a 45° angle
- Construct a 60° angle
- Construct a 90° angle (right angle)
- Sum of n angles
- Difference of two angles
- Supplementary angle
- Complementary angle
- Constructing 75° 105° 120° 135° 150° angles and more
Triangles
- Copy a triangle
- Isosceles triangle, given base and side
- Isosceles triangle, given base and altitude
- Isosceles triangle, given leg and apex angle
- Equilateral triangle
- 30-60-90 triangle, given the hypotenuse
- Triangle, given 3 sides (sss)
- Triangle, given one side and adjacent angles (asa)
- Triangle, given two angles and non-included side (aas)
- Triangle, given two sides and included angle (sas)
- Triangle medians
- Triangle midsegment
- Triangle altitude
- Triangle altitude (outside case)
Right triangles
- Right Triangle, given one leg and hypotenuse (HL)
- Right Triangle, given both legs (LL)
- Right Triangle, given hypotenuse and one angle (HA)
- Right Triangle, given one leg and one angle (LA)
Triangle Centers
Circles, Arcs and Ellipses
- Finding the center of a circle
- Circle given 3 points
- Tangent at a point on the circle
- Tangents through an external point
- Tangents to two circles (external)
- Tangents to two circles (internal)
- Incircle of a triangle
- Focus points of a given ellipse
- Circumcircle of a triangle
Polygons
- Square given one side
- Square inscribed in a circle
- Hexagon given one side
- Hexagon inscribed in a given circle
- Pentagon inscribed in a given circle
Non-Euclidean constructions
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