Step Without changing the compasses' width, draw an arc above and below the line. 3 Step Again without changing the compasses' width, place the compasses' point on the the 4 other end of the line. Draw an arc above and below the line so that the arcs cross the first two. Step Using a straightedge, draw a line between the points where the arcs intersect. 5 Done. This line is perpendicular to the first line and bisects it (cuts it at the exact midpoint of the line). Practice: Construct the perpendicular bisectors of these segments: P Q
Step 3 Without changing the compasses' width, draw an arc above and below the line. Step 4 Again without changing the compasses' width, place the compasses' point on the the other end of the line. Draw an arc above and below the line so that the arcs cross the first two. Step 5 Using a straightedge, draw a line between the points where the arcs intersect. Done. This line is perpendicular to the first line and bisects it (cuts it at the exact midpoint of the line). Practice: Construct the perpendicular bisectors of these segments: P Q
basic_constructions-_with_pictures.docx