{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-12-01T03:14:41+00:00","modifiedTime":"2016-12-01T03:14:41+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:16:39+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Math","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33720"},"slug":"math","categoryId":33720},{"name":"Geometry","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33725"},"slug":"geometry","categoryId":33725}],"title":"How to Bisect an Angle Using a Compass","strippedTitle":"how to bisect an angle using a compass","slug":"bisect-angle-using-compass","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"To bisect an angle, you use your compass to locate a point that lies on the angle bisector; then you just use your straightedge to connect that point to the ang","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"To bisect an angle, you use your compass to locate a point that lies on the angle bisector; then you just use your straightedge to connect that point to the angle's vertex.\r\n\r\nTry an example.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/GEOM-3E_0048_01.gif\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-229794 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/GEOM-3E_0048_01.gif\" alt=\"geometry-angle-bisect\" width=\"237\" height=\"48\" /></a>\r\n\r\nRefer to the figure as you work through this construction:\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/9781119181552-fg2010.gif\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-229615 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/9781119181552-fg2010.gif\" alt=\"geometry-bisecting\" width=\"350\" height=\"148\" /></a>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li><strong>Open your compass to any radius <em>r</em>, and construct arc (<em>K</em>, <em>r</em>) intersecting the two sides of angle <em>K</em> at <em>A</em> and <em>B.</em></strong></li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Use any radius <em>s</em> to construct arc (<em>A</em>, <em>s</em>) and arc (<em>B</em>, <em>s</em>) that intersect each other at point <em>Z.\r\n</em></strong>Note that you must choose a radius <em><em>s</em> </em>that's long enough for the two arcs to intersect.</li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Draw line <em>KZ</em> and you're done.</strong></li>\r\n</ol>","description":"To bisect an angle, you use your compass to locate a point that lies on the angle bisector; then you just use your straightedge to connect that point to the angle's vertex.\r\n\r\nTry an example.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/GEOM-3E_0048_01.gif\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-229794 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/GEOM-3E_0048_01.gif\" alt=\"geometry-angle-bisect\" width=\"237\" height=\"48\" /></a>\r\n\r\nRefer to the figure as you work through this construction:\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/9781119181552-fg2010.gif\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-229615 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/9781119181552-fg2010.gif\" alt=\"geometry-bisecting\" width=\"350\" height=\"148\" /></a>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li><strong>Open your compass to any radius <em>r</em>, and construct arc (<em>K</em>, <em>r</em>) intersecting the two sides of angle <em>K</em> at <em>A</em> and <em>B.</em></strong></li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Use any radius <em>s</em> to construct arc (<em>A</em>, <em>s</em>) and arc (<em>B</em>, <em>s</em>) that intersect each other at point <em>Z.\r\n</em></strong>Note that you must choose a radius <em><em>s</em> </em>that's long enough for the two arcs to intersect.</li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Draw line <em>KZ</em> and you're done.</strong></li>\r\n</ol>","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":8957,"name":"Mark Ryan","slug":"mark-ryan","description":" <p><b>Mark Ryan</b> has taught pre-algebra through calculus for more than 25 years. 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How to Bisect an Angle Using a Compass

By: Mark Ryan and

Updated: 12-01-2016

From The Book: Geometry For Dummies

Geometry For Dummies

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To bisect an angle, you use your compass to locate a point that lies on the angle bisector; then you just use your straightedge to connect that point to the angle's vertex.

Try an example.

Refer to the figure as you work through this construction:

Open your compass to any radius r, and construct arc (K, r) intersecting the two sides of angle K at A and B.
Use any radius s to construct arc (A, s) and arc (B, s) that intersect each other at point Z. Note that you must choose a radius s that's long enough for the two arcs to intersect.
Draw line KZ and you're done.

About This Article

This article is from the book:

Geometry For Dummies ,

About the book author:

Mark Ryan is the founder and owner of The Math Center in the Chicago area, where he provides tutoring in all math subjects as well as test preparation. Mark is the author of Calculus For Dummies, Calculus Workbook For Dummies, and Geometry Workbook For Dummies.

This article can be found in the category:

Geometry ,

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