Geometric

Construction
Stephen A. Jung
Sierra College
Points and Lines
 Point – represents a location in space or on a drawing
 No height, width, or depth
 Represented by the intersection of two lines
 Short cross bar on a line, or
 A small point element e.g. ( + x l )
 Line – is defines as “that which has length without width”1
 Straight Line is the shortest distance between two points
 Lines can be:
 Parallel – symbol = ll
 Perpendicular – symbol =
 Plane – is defined as:
 3 points in a space
 1 point and an entity with end points e.g. line or arc
1 Defined by Euclid
Angles
 Angles are formed by two intersecting
lines
 Common symbol = a
 360 Degrees in a full circle (360o)
 A degree is divided into 60 minutes (60’)
 A minute is divided into 60 seconds (60”)
 Example: 54o 43’ 28” is read 54 degrees, 43
minutes, and 28 seconds.
 Different kinds of angles are:
Triangles
 A triangle is a plane figure bounded by
three straight lines and the sum of the
interior angles is always 180o.
 Types of triangles:
Quadrilaterals
 A quadrilateral is a plane figure bounded
by four straight sides.
 If the opposite sides are parallel, the
quadrilateral is also a parallelogram.
Polygons
 A polygon is any plane figure bounded by
straight lines.
 If the polygon has equal angles and equal sides,
it can be inscribed or circumscribed around a
circle, an is called a regular polygon.
Circles and Arcs
 A circle is a closed curve with all points
the same distance from a point called the
center.
 Attributes of a circle:
Bisecting a Line or Arc
Given line A-B or Arc A-B
Compass Method

Midpoint of line

Construction circles have the same

diameter and the radius is equal to
more than ½ the length of the line.
 Bisecting an Angle
Given angle A-B-C
Compass Method
C

Equal Angles

R
A Bisector

Initial construction circle drawn at any convenient radius.

Second and third circles radius equal to first.
 Transferring an Angle
Compass Method

Z’
Z
Equal Angles
Given Angle r’ r=r’
X-Y-Z R=R’
Equal Angles

R’
r X’
Y
R
New Location Y’
X

Second circle radius (R’) equal to first

circle radius (R).

Initial construction circle drawn at any convenient radius.

 Drawing a Triangle with sides given.
D E
F

E
D

D E

Measure length of each side given.

Construct circles from end points of base.
 Drawing a Right Triangle with
only two sides given
M
N

R=M R= 1/2 N
M

Measure length of each side given.

Construct base segment N.
Construct a circle = M from one end point of base.
Drawing an Equilateral Triangle

R R

R S
Given Side

Measure length of side given. All angles are equal to:? 60o
Draw construction circles from the end points of
the given side with the radius equal to that length.
 Drawing Regular Polygons
using CAD
Required information prior to the construction of a polygon:

1. Number of sides
2. Center location
3. Radius of the polygon
4. Inscribed in a circle or Circumscribed about a circle

R R
Sides = 6 Sides = 6

Inscribed Circumscribed
Tangents
Drawing a Circle Tangent to a
Line
R

Center of Circle

Tangent Point
Offset

Given Line
Drawing a Tangent to Two Circles
Tangent Points

C1 C2

T
Tangent Points
T

C1 C2

T
T
Tangent to Two Arcs or Circles

Only One Tangent Point

C1 C2
Drawing a Tangent Arc in a
Right Angle
Required information prior to the
construction of an Arc Tangent to a line:

1. Radius of the desired Arc = R

Offset
R

R
R
Offset

Given Right Angle

Drawing Tangent Arcs:
Acute & Obtuse Angles
Offset Required information prior to
T the construction of an Arc
R Tangent to a line:

Radius of the desired Arc = R

Offset
R R
Offset
T
Acute Angle

Acute Angle Example

Offset
R
T Obtuse Angle

T
Obtuse Angle Example
 Arc Tangent to:
an Arc and a Straight Line
Offset
RG+RD Required information prior to the
construction of an Arc Tangent to
a line & Arc:
Given Arc
Radius of the desired Arc = RD

RG T

Offset
RD RD

Given Line
 Arc Tangent to:
an Arc and a Straight Line
Required information prior to
the construction of an Arc
Given Arc Tangent to a line & Arc:

Radius of the desired Arc = RD

Offset
RG-RD
RG T

Offset
RD RD

T
Given Line
 Arc Tangent to two Arcs
Required information prior to
the construction of an Arc
Tangent to a line & Arc:
Offset Offset
RG+RD RG’+RD Radius of the desired Arc = RD

T
RG RG’
T
RD

Given Arcs
Arc Tangent to two Arcs
cont.
Required information prior to
the construction of an Arc
Offset Tangent to Two Arcs:
RG+RD
Radius of the desired Arc = RD

RG

Offset
RG’-RD
T

Given Arcs
RD RG’

T
 Arc Tangent to Two Arcs
cont. Enclosing Both
Required
information prior
to the construction
RD
of an Arc Tangent
T to Two Arcs:

RG’ Radius of the

RG
desired Arc = RD
T
RD-RG’

RD-RG

Given Arcs
Arc Tangent to Two Arcs &
Enclosing One
T
Required information
Given Arcs prior to the
construction of an
RD Arc Tangent to Two
RG’
Arcs:
RG T RD-RG’
Radius of the
desired Arc = RD

Offset
RD+RG
That’s All Folks!
Tangent Arcs – Obtuse Angles

Example
Tangent Arcs – Acute Angles

Example
Circles and Arcs
Polygons
Quadrilaterals
Triangles
Angles
Points and Lines