CHAPTER – 3

PRACTICAL GEOMETRY

CONTENTS
 Construction of a pair of parallel
lines using set squares and ruler
 Construction of parallel lined by
ruler
& compasses
 Triangle construction
(Possibilities)
 Side-Side -Side (SSS) Triangle
construction
 Side-Angle-Side (SAS) Triangle
construction
 Angle-Side-Angle (ASA) Triangle
construction
 Construction of a right angled
triangle when its hypotenuse and
one side are given

Construct a line parallel to a given line l

passing through a given point P not on the
line :
(i) Draw a line l.
(ii) Place a set square with the arm of its
right angle.
(iii) Holding the set square fixed, place a
(v) Keeping the set square fixed at same
ruler along the other arm of the right
position, draw a line PQ through the
angle.
point P along the edge of set square.
(iv) Holding the ruler fixed, slide the set
The line PQ is the required line through the
square along the edge of the ruler until
point P and parallel to the line l.
the perpendicular edge of the set square
passes through the given point P as  Construction of a parallel line to a
shown in figure given line m and at a given distance
(d) from it :
(i) Draw a line m and mark a point P
on line m.
(ii) Using a set square, construct a line Now we will show how to construct a line
l perpendicular to m at P. parallel to a given line passing through a
(iii) With a ruler or compasses mark a given point not lying on it.
point Q on l such that the segment Given : A line l and a point A not lying on
PQ = d cm. it.
(iv) Using set square construct a line n To Const. : A line parallel to l through A.
perpendicular to l at Q.
Then, n is the required line parallel to S.No. Steps of Construction
m at a distance of d cm from it.
Construction
1. Draw a line
segment l and
mark a point A not
lying on it.
2. Take any point B
on l and join B
to A.

3. With B as centre
and convenient
radius draw an arc
cutting l at C and
AB to D

4. Now with A as
centre and the same
radius as in step 3
draw an arc EF
cutting AB at G

5. Place the metal

point of the
compasses at C
and adjust the
opening so that the
pencil point is at D.
6. With the same
opening as in step
5 and with G as
centre draw
another arc cutting
the arc EF at H.
7. Now join AH and
draw a line m.
 (3) When its two angles and the included
side is given. (Also known as ASA
Then, m is the required line parallel to l and
triangle construction).
passing through the given point A.
 The sum of two sides of a triangle
Note :
is always greater than the third
In the above figure, l and m are two parallel side.
lines and AB is a transversal.
 The sum of three angles of a
ABC and FAB are alternate interior triangle should be equal to 180°.
angles
But ABC = FAB [By construction]
Hence, l || m [ alternate interior angles are
When length of the three sides of a triangle
equal]
are given, we follow the following steps for
 Alternative Method constructing a triangle :
S.No. Steps of Construction
S.No. Steps of Construction
Construction
Construction
1. Draw a line l.
1. Draw a line
2. Mark a point A segment (with
which is not the help of
lying on l. ruler), of a
3. Draw a line n, given length
through A which equal to one
meets the line l side of a
at point B triangle. Let us
name it as AB.
2. From one end
4. At point A, draw point A, draw
an angle such an arc whose
that it is equal to distance from
ABC. A is equal to
second side.

5. Draw line m 3. From second

which is parallel end point B,
to line l. draw another
arc whose
distance from
B is equal to
third side and
which cuts the
first arc at a
point C.
There are following possibilities of
constructing a triangle : 4. Join AC and
BC.
(1) When its three sides are given. (Also
known as SSS triangle construction).
(2) When its two sides and the included
angle is given. (Also known as SAS
triangle construction).
 The triangle so obtained is the required 3. With centre B and radius 5 cm
triangle. draw another arc intersecting the
first arc at C.
It is important to note that the sum of two
sides of a triangle is always greater than the 4. Joint AC and BC as shown in
third side. figure.
Thus we can say that we cannot construct a ABC is the required triangle.
triangle when the sum of any two sides is
Ex.3 Construct a triangle ABC where AB =
less than or equal to the third side.
2 cm, BC = 3 cm and AC = 6 cm.
EXAMPLES  Sol. Before constructing the required
triangle, let us first draw a rough sketch
Ex.1 Construct a triangle ABC such that side
of the triangle.
AB = 5 cm, BC = 6 cm and AC = 7 cm.
Sol.

By plotting the rough sketch, we find

1. Draw a line segment AB of length
that it is not possible to construct this
5 cm.
triangle. Because the sum of any two
2. With centre A and radius 7 cm sides of a triangle is always greater
draw an arc of the circle. than third side but in the given triangle,
the sum of the lengths of the two sides
3. With centre B and radius 6 cm
AB
draw another arc intersecting first
(2 cm) and BC (3 cm) is less than the
arc at C.
length of the third side AC (6 cm).
4. Join AC and BC as shown in
AB + BC < AC
figure.
Therefore, the three given sides of the
ABC is the required triangle.
triangle do not satisfy the triangle
Ex.2 Construct a triangle ABC in which AB = inequality. Hence, it is not possible to
4.5 cm, AC = 6 cm, BC = 5 cm. construct the given triangle.
Sol.

When the length of two sides and the

measure of included angle is given, we
follow the following steps for constructing
a triangle.
S.No. Steps of Construction
Construction
1. Draw a line segment AB of length 1. Draw a line
4.5 cm. segment AB of
2. With centre A and radius 6 cm the triangle with
draw an arc of the circle. help of ruler.
 2. Draw OBA of
measure equal to
the given B.
When the measure of two angles and length
of included side is given, we follow the
following steps for constructing a triangle :
3. From any point on
, cut off line S.No. Steps of Construction
segment equal to Construction
second side. Mark
1. Draw the given
the cut off point
line segment say
as C.
AB
4. Join AC. The
2. Draw OAB of
triangle so
measure equal to
obtained is the
A.
required triangle.

EXAMPLES 
3. Draw PBA of
Ex.4 Construct ABC, where AB = 5 cm, BC measure equal to
= 3 cm and ABC = 70°. B. Let the ray
and Ray
intersect at
C. Then ABC is
Sol. the required
triangle.

EXAMPLES 
Ex.6 Draw a triangle ABC in which BC = 6
1. Draw AB = 5 cm and ABC = cm,
70°. B = 35°, C = 100°.
2. Cut off BC = 3 cm from .
3. Join AC.
ABC is the required triangle.
Sol.
Ex.5 Construct a DEF in which DE = 5 cm,

DF = 4 cm, and D = 50°.

1. Draw BC = 6 cm as shown in
figure.
Sol. 2. Draw CBQ = 35°
3. Draw BCP = 100°.
4. The two rays and
1. Draw DE = 5 cm and EDF = 50°. intersect at A.

2. Cut off DF = 4 cm from . Then, ABC is the required triangle.

It is important to note that
3. Join EF.
B + C = 35° + 100° = 135°
DEF is the required triangle.
 Which is less than 180°. In other 2. Draw an angle of
words, the sum of two angles of a 90° on one end
triangle is always less than 180°. of the segment.
Ex.7 Construct a ABC in which A =
100°,
B = 20° and CA = 5.4 cm.

3. With other end

as centre and
radius equal to
the hypotenuse
Sol.
draw an arc
intersecting the
perpendicular
line at C.
4. Join the
1. Draw AC = 5.4 cm as shown in intersecting
figure point with the
2. Draw CAQ = 100°. other end of the
line segment.
3. We know the sum of three angles The triangle so
in a triangle = 180° obtained is the
So, C = 180° – (A + B) required triangle.

= 180° – (100 + 20)

= 180° – 120° EXAMPLES 

= 60° Ex.8 Construct a right triangle when its

hypotenuse is of length 4.2 cm and one
4. Draw ACO = 60°. of its side is of length 3.8 cm.
5. The two rays AQ and CO intersect
at B. Then ABC is the require
triangle.
Note : We cannot construct a triangle if Sol.
the sum of two angles is equal to 180º
or greater than 180º.

1. Draw a line segment of length 3.8

cm, as shown in figure.
We follow the following steps for RHS 2. Draw BAO of measure 90°.
triangle construction :
3. With centre B and radius equal to
S.No. Steps of Construction 4.2 cm, draw an arc intersecting
Construction ray at C.

1. Draw a line 4. Join BC.

segment of a Thus, BAC is the required
given length. triangle.
Ex.9 Construct a right triangle PQR in which

Q = 90°, PR = 6 cm and QR = 4 cm.

 2. Draw A = 90°.
3. With centre B and radius equal to 5
cm (hypotenuse) draw an arc
Sol. intersecting ray at C.
4. Join BC.
Thus, BAC is the required triangle.
1. Draw a line segment QR = 4 cm.
2. At Q draw RQX = 90°.
3. With R as the centre and radius PR
= 6 cm (i.e., hypotenuse) draw an
arc to intersect ray at P.
4. Join PR as in figure,
Thus, PQR is the required triangle.
Ex.10 Construct an isosceles right triangle
ABC in which C = 90° and AC = BC
= 5 cm.

Sol.

1. Draw a line segment BC of length =

5 cm.
2. Draw C = 90°.
3. With centre C and radius equal to 5
cm, draw an arc intersecting ray
at A.
4. Join BA.
Thus, ABC is the required triangle.
Ex.11 Draw a right triangle whose hypotenuse
is of length 5 cm and one side of length
3 cm.

Sol.

1. Draw a line segment AB = 3 cm as

in figure.
 EXERCISE
Which of the following measures of sides PR = 5 cm and R = 100° (using ruler
and angles form a triangle. If not, then and protractor).
why ? Construct the possible triangles.
(Q. No. 1 to 8) Q.10 Draw a triangle XYZ, where XY = 4
cm,
Q.1 A = 60°, B = 60° and AC = 5.4 cm. YZ = 4 cm and X = 60° (using ruler
and compasses). What type of triangle
Q.2 P = 70°, Q = 115° and PQ = 4.7 cm. is this ?

Q.3 X = 60°, Y = 70°, XY = 5.8 cm. Q.11 Draw a triangle ABC in which A =
50°,
Q.4 AB = 4 cm, BC = 4.8 cm and AC = 10
B = 40° and AB = 5 cm (using ruler
cm.
and protractor).

Q.5 YZ = 4.9 cm, XZ = 5.4 cm and XY =

Q.12 Draw a triangle PQR in which P =
6.2 cm.
60°,

Q.6 AB = 4 cm, BC = 5 cm, AC = 11 cm. Q = 30° and PQ = 6 cm (using ruler

and compasses).
Q.7 B = 80°, C = 105° and BC = 6 cm.
Q.13 Construct a triangle ABC, where B =
Q.8 BC = 5 cm, B = 70° and AC = 5.5 100°,
cm. C = 40° and BC = 5 cm (using ruler
and protractor).
Q.9 Draw a triangle PQR, where QR = 7
cm,
Q.14 Construct a triangle PQR in which P
= 45°, Q = 30° and PQ = 5.7 cm
(using a ruler and a pair of compasses).

Q.15 Draw a ABC, where, A = 75°, B =

50° and AB = 5.7 cm (using ruler and
protractor).

Q.16 The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 13

cm long. If one of the remaining two
sides is of length 5 cm, measure the
length of another side.

Q.17 Construct an isosceles right triangle

PQR, where Q = 90°, PQ = QR = 4.8
cm.

Q.18 Draw a right PQR, where Q = 90°,

QR = 3 cm and PR = 5 cm.

Q.19 Construct a right triangle ABC, where

B = 90°, AB = 6 cm and BC = 5.4
cm. Measure the length of AC.