Isosceles triangle given base and altitude

How to draw an isosceles triangle given the base and altitude with compass and straightedge or ruler. The base is the unequal side of the triangle and the altitude is the perpendicular height from the base to the apex. It works by first copying the base segment, then constructing its perpendicular bisector. The apex is then marked up from the base.

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.

Proof

The image below is the final drawing from the above animation.

  Argument Reason
1 PR = CD By construction. PR is a copy of the segment CD. See Copying a line segment for method and proof.
2 QS is the perpendicular bisector of PR By construction. See Constructing the perpendicular bisector of a line segment..
3 Triangles QPS and QRS are congruent. SAS. See Test for congruence side-angle-side.
  • QS common to both
  • ∠QSR = ∠QSP = 90° from (2).
  • SP = SR from (2).
4 QP = QR CPCTC - Corresponding Parts of Congruent Triangles are Congruent
5 QS = AB By construction.
6 QPR is an isosceles triangle. From (4). An isosceles triangle has two sides the same length.
7 QPR is an isosceles triangle with base CD and altitude AB. From (1) (5) (6)

  - Q.E.D

Try it yourself

Click here for a printable isosceles construction 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

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Right triangles

Triangle Centers

Circles, Arcs and Ellipses

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Non-Euclidean constructions