MODULE - 3 Constructions

Geometry

Notes
18
CONSTRUCTIONS

One of the aims of studying Geometry is to acquire the skill of drawing figures accurately.
You have learnt how to construct geometrical figures namely triangles, squares and circles
with the help of ruler and compasses. You have constructed angles of 30o, 60o, 90o, 120o
and 45o. You have also drawn perpendicular bisector of a line segment and bisector of an
angle.
In this lesson we will extend our learning to construct some other important geometrical
figures.

OBJECTIVES
After studying this lesson, you will be able to
• divide a given line segment internally in a given ratio;
• construct a triangle from the given data;
(i) SSS
(ii) SAS
(iii) ASA
(iv) RHS
(v) perimeter and base angles
(vi) base, sum/difference of the other two sides and one base angle.
(vii) two sides and a median corresponding to one of these sides.
• construct a triangle, similar to a given triangle; and;
• Construct tangents to a circle from a point:
(i) on it using the centre of the circle.
(i) outside it.

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EXPECTED BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE

We assume that the learner already knows how to use a pair of compasses and ruler to
construct
Notes
• angles of 30o, 45o, 60o, 90o, 105o, 120o
• the right bisector of a line segment
• bisector of a given angle.

18.1 DIVISION OF A LINE SEGMENT IN THE GIVEN

RATIO INTERNALLY
Construction 1: To divide a line segment internally in a given ratio.
Given a line segment AB. You are required to divide it internally in the ratio 2 : 3. We go
through the following steps.
Step 1: Draw a ray AC making an acute angle with AB.
Step 2: Starting with A, mark off 5 points C1, C2, C3, C4 and C5 on AC at equal distances
from the point A.
Step 3: Join C5 and B.
Step 4: Through C2 (i.e. the second point), draw C2D parallel to C5B meeting AB in D.

Fig. 18.1
Then D is the required point which divides AB internally in the ratio 2 : 3 as shown in
Fig. 18.1.

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 18.1

1. Draw a line segment 7 cm long. Divide it internally in the ratio 3 : 4. Measure each
part. Also write the steps of construction.

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3
2. Draw a line segment PQ = 8 cm. Find point R on it such that PR = PQ.
4
[Hint: Divide the line segment PQ internally in the ratio 3 : 1]
Notes

18.2 CONSTRUCTION OF TRIANGLES

Construction 2: To construct a triangle when three sides are given (SSS)
Suppose you are required to construct ΔABC in which AB = 6 cm, AC = 4.8 cm and
BC = 5 cm.
We go through the following steps:
Step 1: Draw AB = 6 cm.
Step 2: With A as centre and radius 4.8 cm,
draw an arc.
Step 3: With B as centre and radius 5 cm draw
another arc intersecting the arc of Step 2 Fig. 18.2
at C.
Step 4: Join AC and BC.
Then ΔABC is the required triangle.
[Note: You may take BC or AC as a base]
Construction 3: To construct a triangle, when two sides and the included angle is given
(SAS).
Suppose you are required to construct a triangle PQR in which PQ = 5.6 cm,
QR = 4.5 cm and ∠PQR = 60o.
Step 1: Draw PQ = 5.6 cm
Step 2: At Q, construct an angle ∠PQX = 60o
Step 3: With Q as centre and radius 4.5 cm draw
an arc cutting QX at R.
Step 4: Join PR
Then ΔPQR is the required triangle. Fig. 18.3
[Note: You may take QR = 4.5 cm as the base instead of PQ]
Construction 4: To construct a triangle when two angles and the included side are given
(ASA).
Let us construct a ΔABC in which ∠B = 60o, ∠C = 45o and BC = 4.7 cm.

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To construct the triangle we go through the following steps:
Step 1: Draw BC = 4.7 cm.
Step 2: At B, construct ∠CBQ = 60o
Notes
Step 3: At C, construct ∠BCR = 45o meeting BQ at A.
Then ΔABC is the required triangle.
Note: To construct a triangle when two angles
and any side (other than the included
side) are given, we find the third angle
(using angle sum property of the triangle)
and then use the above method for Fig. 18.4
constructing the triangle.
Construction 5: To construct a right triangle, when its hypotenuse and a side are given.
Let us construct a right triangle ABC, right angled at B, side BC = 3 cm and hypotenuse
AC = 5 cm
To construct the triangle, we go through the following steps:
Step 1: Draw BC = 3 cm
Step 2: At B, construct ∠CBP = 90o
Step 3: With C as centre and radius 5 cm draw
an arc cutting BP in A.
Step 4: Join AC
ΔABC is the required triangle.
Construction 6: To construct a triangle when its Fig. 18.5
perimeter and two base angles are given.
Suppose we have to construct a triangle whose perimeter is 9.5 cm and base angles are
60o and 45o
To construct the triangle, we go through the following steps:
Step 1: Draw XY = 9.5 cm
Step 2: At X, construct ∠YXP = 30o [which is 1/2 × 60o]
Step 3: At Y, construct ∠XYQ = 22½o [which is 1/2 × 45o]
Let XP and YQ intersect A.
Step 4: Draw right bisector of XA intersecting XY at B.
Step 5: Draw right bisector of YA intersecting XY at C.
Step 6: Join AB and AC.

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Notes

Fig. 18.6
ΔABC is the required triangle.
Construction 7: To construct a triangle when sum of two sides, third side and one of the
angles on the third side are given.
Suppose you are required to construct a triangle ABC in which
AB + AC = 8.2 cm, BC = 3.6 cm and ∠B = 45o
To construct the triangle, we go through the following steps:
Step 1: Draw BC = 3.6 cm
Step 2: At B, construct ∠CBK = 45o

Fig. 18.7
Step 3: From BK, cut off BP = 8.2 cm.
Step 4: Join CP.
Step 5: Draw right bisector of CP intersecting BP at A.
Step 6: Join AC
ΔABC is required triangle.

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Construction 8: To construct a triangle when difference of two sides, the third side and
one of the angles on the third side are given.
Suppose we have to construct a ΔABC, in which BC = 4 cm, ∠B = 60o, AB – AC
= 1.2 cm. Notes
To construct the triangle we go through the following steps:
Step 1: Draw BC = 4 cm.
Step 2: Construct ∠CBP = 60o
Step 3: From BP cut off BK = 1.2 cm.
Step 4: Join CK.
Step 5: Draw right bisector of CK meeting BP produced at A.
Step 6: Join AC
Fig. 18.8
ΔABC is the required triangle.
Construction 9: To construct a triangle when its two sides and a median corresponding
to one of these sides, are given:
Suppose you have to construct a ΔABC in which AB = 6 cm, BC = 4 cm and
median CD = 3.5 cm.
We go through the following steps:
Step 1: Draw AB = 6 cm
Step 2: Draw right bisector of AB meeting AB in D.
Step 3: With D as centre and radius 3.5 cm draw an
arc.
Step 4: With B as centre and radius 4 cm draw
another arc intersecting the arc of Step 3 in Fig. 18.9
C.
Step 5: Join AC and BC.
Then ΔABC is required triangle.

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 18.2

1. Construct a ΔDEF, given that DE = 5.1 cm, EF = 4 cm and DF = 5.6 cm. Write the
steps of construction.
Note: You are also required to write the steps of construction in each of the
remaining problems.

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2. Construct a ΔPQR, given that PR = 6.5 cm, ∠P = 120o and PQ = 5.2 cm.
3. Construct a ΔABC given that BC = 5.5 cm, ∠B = 75o and ∠C = 45o.

Notes 4. Construct a right triangle in which one side is 3 cm and hypotenuse is 7.5 cm.
5. Construct a right angled isoceles triangle in which one of equal sides is 4.8 cm.
6. Construct a ΔABC given that AB + BC + AC = 10 cm, ∠B = 60o, ∠C = 30o.
7. Construct a ΔABC in which AB = 5 cm, ∠A = 60o, BC + AC = 9.8 cm.
8. Construct a ΔLMN, when ∠M = 30o, MN = 5 cm and LM – LN = 1.5 cm.
9. Construct a triangle PQR in which PQ = 5 cm, QR = 4.2 cm and median
RS = 3.8 cm.

18.3 TO CONSTRUCT A TRIANGLE SIMILAR TO A GIVEN

TRIANGLE, AS PER GIVEN SCALE FACTOR
[Here, Scale Factor means the ratio of the sides of the triangle to be constructed, to the
corresponding sides of the given triangle.]
Construction 10: Construct a triangle similar to a given triangle ABC with its sides equal
to 3/5 of the corresponding sides of the triangle ABC.
Steps of Construction:
A
1. Let ABC be the given Δ. Draw any ray BX
making an acute angle with BC on the side
opposite to vertex A. A′

2. Locate 5 points B1, B2, B3, B4 and B5 on BX

so that
C′
B C
BB1 = B1B2 = B2B3 = B3B4 = B4B5
B1
3. Join B5C and draw a line through B3 parallel B2
B3
to B5C to meet BC at C′. B4
B5
4. Draw a line though C′ parallel to CA to meet
AB in A′.
Fig. 18.10 X
Then ΔA′BC′ is the required Triangle.
Construction 11: Construct a triangle with sides 5cm, 6 cm and 7 cm. Construct another
2
triangle similar to this triangle with scale factor .
3

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A
Steps of Construction:
1. Draw of a line segment BC = 7 cm
2. Through B draw an arc of radius 6 cm. A′
Through C draw another arc of radius 5 cm Notes
to intersect the first arc at A.
C′ C
3. Join AB and AC to get ΔABC. B
B1
4. Draw a ray BX making an acute angle with B2
BC. B3
5. Locate 3 points B1, B2 and B3 on BX such X
that BB1 = B1B2 = B2B3
6. Join B3C and through B2 draw a line parallel Fig. 18.11
to B3C to meet BC in C′.
7. Through C′, draw a line parallel to CA to meet AB at A′.
Then A′BC′ is the required triangle.

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 18.3

1. Construct a triangle of sides 4cm, 5 cm and 7 cm and then a triangle similar to it whose
3
sides are of the corresponding sides of the first triangle.
4
2. Draw a triangle ABC with BC = 7 cm, AB = 5 cm and ∠ABC = 60o. Then construct
4
a triangle whose sides are of the corresponding sides of the triangle ABC.
5
3. Draw a right triangle with sides (other than hypotenuse) of lenghts 5 cm and 6 cm.
4
Then construct another triangle similar to this triangle with scale factor .
5
4. Draw a ΔABC with base BC = 6 cm, ∠ABC = 60o and side AB = 4.5 cm. Construct
5
a triangle A′BC′ similar to ABC with scale factor .
6

18.4 CONSTRUCTION OF TANGENTS TO A CIRCLE

Construction 12: To draw a tangent to a given circle at a given point on it using the centre
of the circle.

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Suppose C be the given circle with centre O and a point P on it. You have
to draw a tangent to the circle. We go through the following steps:
Step 1: Join OP.
Notes
Step 2: At P, draw PT ⊥ OP.
Step 3: Produce TP to Q
Then TPQ is the required tangent. Fig. 18.12
Construction 13: To draw tangents to a circle from a given point outside it.
Suppose C be the given circle with centre O and a point A outside it. You have to draw
tangents to the circle from the point A. For that, we go through the following steps:
Step 1: Join OA.
Step 2: Draw the right bisector of OA. Let R be
mid point of OA.
Step 3: With R as centre and radius equal to RO,
draw a circle intersecting the given circle
at P and Q.
Step 4: Join AP and AQ.
Then AP and AQ are the two required tangents. Fig. 18.13

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 18.4

1. Draw a circle of 3 cm radius. Take a point A on the circle. At A, draw a tangent to the
circle by using the centre of the circle. Also write steps of construction.
2. Draw a circle of radius 2.5 cm. From a point P outside the circle, draw two tangents
PQ and PR to the circle. Verify that lengths of PQ and PR are equal. Also write steps
of construction.

TERMINAL EXERCISE
1. Draw a line segment PQ = 8 cm long. Divide it internally in the ratio 3 : 5. Also write
the steps of construction.
Note: You are also required to write the steps of construction in each of the
following problems.
2. Draw a line segment AB = 6 cm. Find a point C on AB such that AC : CB = 3 : 2.
Measure AC and CB

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3. Construct a triangle with perimeter 14 cm and base angles 60o and 90o.
4. Construct a right angled triangle whose hypotenuse is 8 cm and one of its other two
sides is 5.5 cm.
5. Construct a ΔABC in which BC = 3.5 cm, AB + AC = 8 cm and ∠B = 60o. Notes

6. Construct a ΔABC in which AB = 4 cm, ∠A = 45o, and AC – BC = 1 cm.

7. Construct a ΔPQR with PQ = 5 cm, PR = 5.5 cm and the base QR = 6.5 cm.
5
Construct another triangle P′QR′ similar to ΔPQR such that each of its sides are
7
times the corresponding sides of ΔPQR.
8. Construct a right triangle with sides 5 cm, 12 cm and 13 cm. Construct another triangle
similar to it with scale factor 5/6.
9. Draw a circle of diameter 6 cm. From a point P outside the circle at a distance of 6 cm
from the centre, draw two tangents to the circle.
10. Draw a line segment AB of length 8 cm. Taking A as centre, draw a circle of radius
4 cm and taking B as centre, draw another circle of radius 3 cm. Construct tangents to
each circle from the centre of the other circle.

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