You will learn several basic constructions in this section: copying figures, bisecting figures, constructing perpendiculars, constructing parallels, and constructing with measurements. Each of these constructions will be done using only the compass and the straightedge. With these five basic constructions you can then construct other geometric figures such as triangles, rectangles, and parallelograms.


To copy a figure means to duplicate it on your paper so that the segments and angles of the copy are exactly the same size as the original. Copying is done with just two tools: a compass and an unmarked straightedge.