Constructing a perpendicular at the end of a ray with compass and straightedge or ruler

Perpendicular at the endpoint of a ray Using compass and straightedge or ruler

- Printable problem worksheet
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Click on 'Next' to go through the construction one step at a time, or click on 'Run' to let it run without stopping. (If there is no image below, see support page.)

Step-by-step Instructions

	After doing this	Your work should look like this
	Start with a given ray.
Step 1	Pick a point not on the line, about 6 cm from the endpoint of the ray. Its exact location is not important. Label it D.
Step 2	Set the compass on point D and set its width to the endpoint of the ray.
Step 3	Draw an arc that crosses the ray and extends over and above the ray endpoint. (If you prefer, draw a complete circle.)
Step 4	Draw a diameter through D from the point where the arc crosses the ray.
Step 5	Draw a line from the ray's endpoint to the endpoint of the diameter line
Step 6	Done. The last line drawn is perpendicular to the ray.

Try it yourself

Click here for a printable worksheet containing two problems to try. When you get to the page, use the browser print command to print as many as you wish. The printed output is not copyright.

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