Sum of given segments

After doing this	Your work should look like this
Start with three given segments a, b and c
1.  Mark a point P towards the left of the work area.
2.  Draw a long line from P to the right.
3.  Set the compasses width to the length of the segment a. (Note: We can use the given segments in any order.)
4.  Without changing the compass width, place the point on P and make an arc across the line.
5.  Set the compasses width to the length of the segment b.
6.  Without changing the compass width, place the point on the previous arc and make an arc across the line to its right.
7.  Set the compasses width to the length of the segment c.
7.  Without changing the compass width, place the point on the previous arc and make an arc across the line to its right, creating point Q.
Done. The segment PQ has a length which is the sum of the segments a,b and c.

Other constructions pages on this site

• List of printable constructions worksheets

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 at a point on a line
• 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

• Triangle incenter
• Triangle circumcenter
• Triangle orthocenter
• Triangle centroid

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

• Construct an ellipse with string and pins
• Find the center of a circle with any right-angled object