CXC Mathematics General Proficiency Construction

Topics are: Stretch the 2 arms of the compasses on the ruler until
the distance between the sharp end and the pencil
GEOMETRIC CONSTRUCTION end is 6 cm apart.

Put the compasses on the line with the sharp end at

You will learn to construct:
point P and mark an arc on the line using the pencil
end.
1. a line segment , a Perpendicular Bisector and a
perpendicular Line

2. an angle bisector

3. a 60˚angle, a 30˚angle from a 60˚angle

7. a 90º angle, a 45º angle from a 90˚angle

8. Constructing diagrams
Remove the compasses and mark the point where
the arc meets the line as point Q.
Use the knowledge above to answer examination
question

GEOMETRIC CONSTRUCTION

Geometric constriction involves drawing shapes

that satisfy certain requirements. Constructing a Perpendicular Bisector
Note:
A perpendicular bisector of a line segment AB is a
 Do not use a protractor to construct an angle unless line that divides the line AB into two equal parts at a
otherwise stated. right angle.

 Do not erase the construction lines. They will show Example:

the examiner how the lines and the shapes were
constructed.
2. Construct a perpendicular bisector of the
given line segment AB.
Constructing a line segment
Solution:
Example:
Stretch your compasses until it is more than half the
1. Construct a line segment with length 6 cm. length of AB. Put the sharp end at A and mark an
arc above and another arc below line segment AB.
Solution:

Use a ruler to draw a straight line that is slightly

longer than 6 cm. Mark the starting point (P) near
the beginning of the line.

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Constructing a perpendicular Line

Without changing the width of the compasses, put the
sharp end at B and mark arcs above and below the
line segment AB that will intersect with the arcs Constructing a perpendicular from a point on
drawn previously. the line

Example:

3. Construct a line perpendicular to PQ

through the point R on PQ.

Solution:

Stretch your compasses a short length. It can be any

length. Put the sharp end of the compasses on point
R and mark two arcs S and T on the line PQ.

Join the two points where the arcs intersect with a

straight line. This line is the perpendicular bisector
of AB. P is the midpoint of AB.

Stretch the compasses a little more. Put the sharp

end of the compasses on point S and make an arc
with pencil end. Do the same on point T but make
sure that the second arc intersects the first arc.

The above construction can also be used to

construct an isosceles triangle or a rhombus.
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Constructing a 60˚ angle is constructing an

equilateral triangle. The angles in an equilateral
triangle are 60˚.

Use any length for a side of the equilateral triangle, if the

lengths of the sides are not given.

Example:

Draw a line from point R to the point where the arcs 5. Construct  ABC = 60˚.
intersect. This line is perpendicular to PQ and
passes through the point R.

Constructing parallel lines

There is a useful property to show that 2 given lines
are parallel. This property states that if 2 given lines
are both perpendicular to a third line, then the 2
lines are parallel. The figure below illustrates this
property.

Example:

Since AB and PQ are both perpendicular to ST,

these 2 lines are parallel. This property can be used
to construct two parallel lines.

Constructing a 60˚angle by
constructing an equilateral triangle.

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Solution:
An angle bisector is a straight line that divides the
Draw a straight line. Mark the point B on the line. angle into two equal parts.

Example:

Stretch the compasses to any length. Put the compass 6. Construct an angle bisector for an angle:
point at B and draw an arc, from above the line, to
intersect the line. Label the point where the arc Solution:
intersects the line as point C.
Put the sharp end of your compasses at point B and
make one arc on the line BC (point S) and another
arc on line AB (point T).

While keeping the same length put the compass point

at C and draw a second arc above the line to
intersect the first arc. Label the intersection A.

Without changing the width of your compasses, put

the sharp end of the compasses at S and make an arc
within the lines AB and BC. Do the same at T and
make sure that the second arc intersects the first arc.

Draw a line from point B to the point of intersection

of the 2 arcs. Label the angle 60˚.

Draw a line from point B to the points of intersection

of the 2 arcs. This line bisects  ABC.
Constructing an angle bisector
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Construct a 90˚ angle, and then construct an angle

bisector to obtain a 45˚ angle.

Stretch your compasses until it is more than half the

length of AB. Put the sharp end at A and mark an
arc above and another arc below line segment AB.

Constructing a 30˚angle from a

60˚angle
Angle bisector can be used to construct some other
angles from existing angles.

 A 30˚ angle can be obtained by bisecting a

60˚ angle.

 A 15˚ angle can be obtained by bisecting a Without changing the width of the compasses, put the
30˚ angle. sharp end at B and mark arcs above and below the
line segment AB that will intersect with the arcs
 A 45˚ angle can be obtained by bisecting a drawn previously.
90˚ angle.

 A 22.5˚ angle can be obtained by bisecting a

45˚ angle.

Constructing a 90º angle.

Constructing a 45˚angle from a
90˚angle

Example:

The figure shows a point A on a straight line.

Construct an angle of 45˚ at point A.

Join the two points where the arcs intersect with a

Solution: straight line. This line is the perpendicular bisector
of AB. P is the midpoint of AB.

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Bisect the 90º angle to form a 45º angle.

Examination Question Examples

Example 1: Constructing a triangle given all

three sides equal.

1. Using a ruler and a compass only, construct

Δ ABC with sides all three sides equal to 8
cm.

(a) Construct the line CD, the height of Δ ABC,

intersecting the line AB at D.
Measure and state the length of CD, the
height of Δ ABC.

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(b) Measure and state the size of: Example 2: Constructing a triangle given two
sides equal and one unequal side.
(i)  BAC
2. Using a ruler and a compass only, construct
(ii)  ABC Δ DEF with DE = 5 cm, and EF = DF = 7
cm.
(c) Calculate the area of Δ ABC.
(a) Construct the height of Δ DEF, intersecting
the line DE at G.
Solution:
Measure and state the height of Δ DEF.
Constructing an equilateral triangle of length 8 cm
(b) Measure and state the size of:
is constructing an equilateral triangle with 60˚
angle.
(i)  EDF
Your diagram should look like this:
(ii)  EFD

(c) Calculate the perimeter of  DEF.

Solution:

Constructing a triangle with two sides equal to 7 cm

is constructing an isosceles triangle with two angles
equal.

Your diagram should look like this:

(a) CD = 6.8 cm

(b) (i)  BAC =  A = 60º

(ii)  ABC =  B = 60º

(c) Area = ½ base × height

= ½ × (8 cm) × (6.8 cm)
= 27.2 cm² Ans.

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(a) height = FG = 6.5 cm

(b) (i)  EDF =  D = 70º

(ii)  EFD =  F = 40º

(c) Perimeter = distance around the triangle.

Perimeter = (5 cm) + (7 cm) + (7 cm)

= 19 cm Ans.

Example 3: Constructing a triangle given all

three sides unequal.

3. Using a ruler and a compass only, construct

Δ PQR with PQ = 6 cm, PR = 7 cm and (a) height = RT = 5.3 cm
QR = 5.5 cm.
(b) (i)  RPQ = 50º
(a) Construct the height of Δ PQR, intersecting
the line PQ at T. (ii)  PRQ = 75º
Measure and state the height of Δ PQR.
(iii)  PQR = 55º
(b) Measure and state the size of:

(c) Perimeter = distance around the triangle.

(i)  RPQ
Perimeter = (7 cm) + (6 cm) + (5.5 cm)
(ii)  PRQ
= 18.5 cm Ans.
(ii)  PQR
(d) Area = ½ base × height
(c) Calculate the perimeter of  PQR. = ½ × (6 cm) × (5.3 cm)
= 15.9 cm² Ans.
(d) Determine the area of  PQR.

Example 4: Constructing a triangle given one

Solution: side and two angles.

Constructing a triangle with all three sides unequal 4. Using a ruler and a compass only, construct
is constructing a scalene triangle.
Δ ABC with AB = 8 cm,  BAC = 60º and
 ABC = 45º.
Your diagram should look like this:

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(a) Construct the height of Δ ABC, intersecting = 20.7 cm Ans.

the line AB at T.
Measure and state the height of Δ ABC. (d) Area = ½ base × height
Area = ½ × (8 cm) × (4.9 cm)
(b) Measure and state the size of  ACB = 19.6 cm² Ans.

(c) Measure and state the length of the side:

Example 5: Constructing a triangle given two
sides and one angle.
(ii) AC

(ii) BC 5. Construct a triangle PQR given that PQ =

4 cm, PR = 5 cm and  P = 120˚.
(d) Calculate the perimeter of  ABC.
(a) Construct the height of Δ PQR, intersecting
(e) Determine the area of  ABC. the line QP at T.
Measure and state the height.
Solution:
(b) Measure and state the size of:
Your diagram should look like this:

(ii) Q

(ii) R

(c) Measure and state the length of QR

(d) Calculate the perimeter of Δ PQR.

(e) Determine the area of Δ PQR.

Solution:

(a) height = CT = 4.9 cm Your diagram should look like this:

(b)  ACB = 75º

(c) (i) AC = 5.7 cm

(ii) BC = 7 cm

(d) Perimeter = distance around the triangle.

Perimeter = (5.7 cm) + (8 cm) + (7 cm)

(a) height = 4.5 cm
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(b) (i)  Q = 34º

(ii)  R = 26º

(c) QR = 7.9 cm

(d) Perimeter = distance around the triangle

= (4 cm) + (5 cm) + (7.9 cm)
= 16.9 cm Ans.

(d) Area = ½ base × height (a) CT = 6.8 cm

= ½ × (4 cm) × (4.5 cm)
(b) AC = 6.8 cm
= 9 cm² Ans.
(b)  B = 120˚
Example 6: Constructing a parallelogram.

6. Construct a parallelogram ABCD with sides Example 7: Constructing a rectangle.

AB = 4 cm and AD = 5 cm and  A = 60˚. 7. Using a ruler and a compass only, construct
a rectangle PQRS with sides PQ = 6.4 cm
Draw and show the diagonal AC. and PS= 5 cm.

(a) Construct the height of the parallelogram (a) Draw and show the diagonal PR
ABCD, intersecting the line AB at T.
Measure and state the height. (b) Measure and state the length of the diagonal
PR.
(b) Measure and state the length of the diagonal
AC (b) Measure and state the size of  B.

(c) Measure and state the size of  B. Solution:

Solution: Construct a line segment PQ = 6.4 cm.

Construct a 90˚ angle at points P and Q respectively.

Your diagram should look like this:
Construct 2 line segments, upwards, of 5 cm from P
and Q respectively. Mark the ends S and R
respectively. Then, draw a line from S to R to form
the rectangle.

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CXC Mathematics General Proficiency Construction

Your diagram should look like this: Example 9: Constructing a trapezium

9. Using a ruler and a compass only, construct

a trapezium EFGH with sides EF = 7 cm,
 EFG = 60˚,  HEF = 90˚ and HE = 5
cm.

Solution:

Your diagram should look like this:

PR = 8.1 cm

Example 8: Constructing a square.

8. Using a ruler and a compass only, construct

a square ABCD with side AB = 5 cm.
Draw and show the diagonal AC.

Measure and state the length of the diagonal Example 10: Constructing a quadrilateral using
AC compass and protractor.

Solution: 10. Using a ruler, pencil and a pair of

compasses and a protractor, draw
Your diagram should look like this: accurately a quadrilateral ABCD using the
following measurements:

AB = 8 cm  ABC = 130˚, BC = 5 cm, 

DAB = 80˚ and AD = 6.5 cm
(a) Construct the height of the parallelogram
ABCD, intersecting the line AB at T.

(b) Measure and state the length of

(i) DT

(ii) AT

AB = 7.1 cm (iii) BD.

(iv) DC.
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(c) Determine the area of Δ ABD. Examination Questions (to do)

(d) Calculate the perimeter of quadrilateral Attempt ALL questions.
ABCD.
All construction lines must be clearly shown.
Solution:
1. Construct a triangle PQR in which QR = 8.6
Your diagram should look like this:
cm, PQ = 7.2 cm and angle PQR = 60°

(a) Construct the perpendicular bisector of PR

to me QR at S.

(b) Measure and write down the length of SR.

2. Using ruler and compasses only, construct a

triangle ABC with AB = 9.5 cm, AC = 7.5
cm and angle BAC= 60°.

(a) Locate the point D such that DB

perpendicular to AB and CD is parallel to
(b) (i) DT = 6.4 cm AB.

(ii) AT = 0.9 cm (b) Measure and state the length of BD.

(iii) BD = 9.6 cm
3. Construct a triangle ABC such that AB = 7.5
(iv) DC = 10.6 cm cm. BC = 6 cm and CA = 5 cm.

(a) Construct the line CX, the height of triangle

(c) Area ADT = ½ base × height
ABC intersecting AB at X.
= ½ × (0.9 cm) × (6.4 cm)
= 2.925 cm² Ans. (b) Measure and state:

(i) the length of CX.

(d) Perimeter = (8 cm) + (5 cm) +
(10.6 cm) + (6.5 cm) (ii) the size of angles BAC and ACX.
= 30.1 cm Ans.

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4. Using ruler and compasses only, construct a

triangle EFG with EF = 4 cm, FG = 7.5 cm (b) Complete the quadrilateral ABCD such that
and angle EFG = 45°. AC = 2AX.

(b) Measure state: (c) Measure and state the length of AC.

(i) the length of EG (d) name of the type of quadrilateral drawn.

(ii) the size of angle FEG.

9. Without using your protractor, construct a
triangle OAB in which angle OAB = 60˚ and
5. Using ruler and compasses only, construct, a
OA = AB = 4 cm.
triangle PQR with PQ = 8.0 cm, QR = 7.5
cm, PQR = 60°.
(a) Hence, construct the rhombus OFAB.
Construct the perpendicular bisector of QR.
(b) Determine the area of the rhombus OFAB to
2 significant figures.
6. Using only a pair of compasses, a ruler and
a pencil, construct Δ PQR in which QR =
10. Using ruler and compasses only, construct
6.5 cm, PQ = 8 cm and angle PQR is 75°.
the Δ DEF such that DE = 8 cm,  D = 45˚
Measure and write down the length of the and  E = 60°.
PR.
(a) construct the perpendicular bisector of DF
7. Using only a pair of compasses, a ruler and to intersect DE at X.
a pencil, construct Δ ABC with BC = 10 cm,
AB = 4.5 cm and angle ABC = 120°. Bisect (b) Measure and state the lengths of DF and
angle BAC, such this angle bisector meets DX.
BC at X.
11. Construct a triangle DAB such that AB = 8
(a) Measure and state: cm, AD = 6.5 cm and angle DAB = 75°.

(i) the length of CX. (a) Through D, construct DC parallel to AB.

(ii) the size of angle ACX. (b) Construct also the line BC perpendicular to
AB.
8. Using ruler and compasses only, construct
the Δ ABD such that BD = 7 cm,  ABD = (c) Measure and state the length of DC.
 ADB = 60°.

(a) construct the line segment AX which is

perpendicular to BD and which intersects
BD at X.

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12. Using ruler and compasses ONLY, 17. Using ruler and compasses only, construct
construct the triangle FGH with FG = 7.5 parallelogram WXYZ where WK = 5.5 cm,
cm, angle FGH = 120° and angle GFH = WZ = 7.0 cm and  XWZ = 60°.
30°.
Draw diagonal XZ. Measure and state its
(a) Locate on FG, the point M, the midpoint of length.
FG.
18. Using only a pair of compasses, a ruler and
(b) Measure and state the size of angle GMH. a pencil, construct parallelogram ABCD in
which AB = AD = 7 cm and the angle BAD
13. Using rulers and compasses only, construct is 60°.
the triangle CAB with angle CAB = 60°, Measure and write down the length of the
with AB = 8 cm and AC = 9 cm diagonal AC.

(a) Construct the perpendicular bisector of AB 19. Draw a line segment, PQ, 7 cm long.
to meet AC at X and AB at Y.
(a) Using only a ruler, a pencil and a pair of
(b) Measure and state the length of XY. compasses, construct a line segment,
LM, the perpendicular bisector of PQ, such
(c) Measure and state the size of the angle
that LM cuts PQ at O, and OL = OM = 4
ABC.
cm.

14. Using a ruler, a pencil and a pair of (b) Form parallelogram PLQM by joining the
compasses only, construct the rectangle points P, L, Q and M.
PQRS in which PQ = 8 cm and PS = 6 cm.
(c) Measure and state the size of the angle
Measure and state the length of the MPL.
diagonal.
(d) What type of parallelogram is PLQM? Give
15. Using a ruler, a pencil, and a pair of a reason for your answer.
compasses, construct the parallelogram
KLMN, in which KL = 8 cm, KN = 6 cm, 20. Draw a line PR which measures 7.5 cm.
and  LKN = 60°. Construct a perpendicular bisector, QS, of
PR to meet PR at O, such that OQ and OS
16. Using a ruler, a pencil and a pair of both measure 5 cm. Complete the
compasses, construct parallelogram WXYZ parallelogram.
in which WX = 7.0 cm, WZ = 5.5 cm and
 XWZ = 60°. (a) State the name of this type of parallelogram
PQRS.
Measure and state the length of the diagonal
WY. (b) Measure and state the length of PQ.

(c) Measure and state the size of the angle QPS.

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21. Using ruler and compasses only, construct 25. Using ruler, compass and protractor, draw a
the trapezium KLMN with KL parallel to quadrilateral ABCD in which AB = 8.0 cm,
NM, KL = 4 cm, NM = 7 cm,  KLM = 120° AD = 6.0 cm, BC =5.4 cm, angle DAB = 90°
and LM = 6 cm. and angle ABC = 120°.

(a) Show that  NKL =  MNK = 90°. Measure and state the size of BDC.

(b) Show, by calculation, that the distance 26.

between KL and MN is 3 3 cm.
(a) Using ruler and compasses only, construct
the trapezium KLMN with KL parallel to
22. Using ruler and compasses only, construct a
NM, KL = 4 cm, NM = 7 cm.  KLM =120°
trapezium ABCD in which AD = 9 cm, AB =
and LM = 6 cm.
6 cm. BC = 5 cm, angle BAD = 30˚and BC
(b) Show that  NKL =  MNK = 90°
is parallel to AD.
(c) Show, by calculation, that the distance
(a) Construct the perpendicular BF from B to
between KL and MN is cm.
meet AD at F.

(b) Measure and state the length of BF. 27. Using ruler and compasses only, construct
the triangle WXY with WX = 7 cm, XY = 6
23. Draw two lines AB and AC such that AB = 8 cm and  WXY = 90°.
cm, AC = 7.5 cm and angle BAC = 55°.
Measure and state the size of YWX.
(a) With ruler and compasses only, construct
the line AX which bisects the angle BAC. 28.

(b) The point P on AX is 6 cm from A. With (a) Using ruler and compasses only, construct
rulers and compasses only, construct PY the parallelogram KLMN, so that KL = 8 cm,
perpendicular to AB. The point Y is on AB. LM = 8 cm and  KLM =135°.

(c) Measure and state the length of PY. (b) Draw KM.

24. Using ruler, compass and protractor, draw a (c) Measure and state the length of KM.
quadrilateral VWXY in which XY = 8cm,
angle XYV = 80°. VY = 6 cm, XW =7 cm
and angle XYW = 35°.

Measure and state the length of VW, correct

to one decimal place.

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