Construction: Regular Polygons

About Geometry Worksheet Activity 3A:  

 

Activity 3A is an introduction to construction of regular polygons.

 

Prerequisite Skill: Construct congruent line segments (Activity 1B).

 

How to construct a regular hexagon:

 

(Do problem 1 by following the steps below.)

 

1.   Adjust the compass opening (between point and pencil) to 3 centimeters.

 

2.   Place the compass at the given point.  Draw a circle.

 

3.   Mark a point anywhere on the circle.  Label the point A.

 

4.   Without changing the compass opening, place the compass point at A.   

 

5.    Draw an arc intersecting the circle.  Mark a point on the intersection.  Label the point B.

 

6.   Using the same compass opening, place the compass point at B.  

    

7.   Draw another arc that intersects the circle.  Mark a point on the intersection.  Label the point C.

 

8.   Repeat steps 4-7 until the circle is divided into 6 congruent arcs.

 

9.   Use a straightedge.  Draw line segments that connect each consecutive pair of points.

 

10. The polygon inside the circle is the regular hexagon.

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