draw a perpendicular to line P at point M using ruler and compass
Answers
Answer:
Bisecting a line segment with a ruler
Read through the following steps.
Step 1: Draw line segment AB and determine its midpoint.
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Step 2: Draw any line segment through the midpoint.
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The small marks on AF and FB show that AF and FB are equal.
CD is called a bisector because it bisects AB. AF = FB.
Use a ruler to draw and bisect the following line segments: AB = 6 cm and XY = 7 cm.
In Grade 6, you learnt how to use a compass to draw circles, and parts of circles called arcs. We can use arcs to bisect a line segment.
Bisecting a line segment with a compass and ruler
Read through the following steps.
Step 1
Place the compass on one endpoint of the line segment (point A). Draw an arc above and below the line. (Notice that all the points on the arc aboveand below the line are the same distance from point A.)
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Step 2
Without changing the compass width, place the compass on point B. Draw an arc above and below the line so that the arcs cross the first two. (The two points where the arcs cross are the same distance away from point A and from point B.)
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Step 3
Use a ruler to join the points where the arcs intersect.This line segment (CD) is the bisector of AB.
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Intersect means to cross or meet.
A perpendicular is a line that meets another line at an angle of 90°.
Notice that CD is also perpendicular to AB. So it is also called a perpendicular bisector.
Work in your exercise book. Use a compass and a ruler to practise drawing perpendicular bisectors on line segments.
Try this!
Work in your exercise book. Use only a protractor and ruler to draw a perpendicular bisector on a line segment. (Remember that we use a protractor to measure angles.)