Daveed J.

asked • 08/17/22

How do you construct a parallelogram? (Geometry)

How do you construct a parallelogram with a compass, I’m using an online version called maths pad.

Brenda D.

tutor
Are you familiar with making the the marks online with a compass? You can (1) make a straight horizontal line by opening the compass, planting the compass on its pointed end (this is your first mark), then marking the other horizontal end with the pencil at 180 degrees(this is your second mark). You’ve basically just made a mark 180 degrees (horizontally) from the pointed end for your first line. (2) Keeping the compass planted and open, raise the pencil end back up to less than 90 degrees(maybe 70 degrees or so you will be eyeballing it) make another mark(this is your third mark), this should give you a mark above your first mark at angle less than 90 degrees. Finally, put the pointed end of the compass in the middle of the third mark and repeat (1). You say above that you have to use only a compass, what are you using draw the lines with? A compass will make the marks. Horizontal and transversal lines are needed connect your points. You want to have two perfectly horizontal lines above each other at an angle that is less than 90 degrees in two opposite corners of your resulting parallelogram. You should try on a piece of paper first, Math Pads may require a specific order and there is always more than one way to do it. There is the Angle Copy Method and the Rhombus Method but these usually involve a compass or compasses and straight edge or ruler.
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08/18/22

Dayv O.

you make a valid point, drawing a straight line requires a straight edge.
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08/18/22

4 Answers By Expert Tutors

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William W. answered • 08/18/22

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Mark M. answered • 08/18/22

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Draw a line.

Through any point outside that line construct a parallel line.

Draw a line through any point (A) on the first line through any point (B) on the parallel line.

Mark off any distance from the point A on the first line to point C

Mark off same distacne from point B on the pallel line to point D

Connect C and D

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Dayv O. answered • 08/18/22

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This might be sufficient - it is that if any quadrilateral (corners concave) is mid-pointed on each side and the mid points joined by lines to form inner quadrilateral, then the inner quadrilateral is a parallelogram. Proof in analytical/coordinate geometry.


Suggestion is to draw quadrilateral. Compass alone can find mid-points of line segments (arcs crossing at two arc lengths and line drawn through crossings is midpoint). Join mid-points and have parallelogram.

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