About Lesson
Divide a line segment into a given number of equal parts
Here we cut a line into 5 segments, but the same approach can be used to cut a line into any number of segments:
| Steps | After doing this | Your work should look like this |
|---|---|---|
| Start with a line segment AB that we will divide up into 5 (in this case) equal parts. |  |
|
| 1 | From point A, draw a line segment at an angle to the given line, and about the same length. The exact length is not important. |  |
| 2 | Set the compasses on A, and set its width to a bit less than one fifth of the length of the new line. |  |
| 3 | Step the compasses along the line, marking off 5 arcs. Label the last one C. |  |
| 4 | With the compasses’ width set to CB, draw an arc from A just below it. |  |
| 5 | With the compasses’ width set to AC, draw an arc from B crossing the one drawn in step 4. This intersection is point D. |  |
| 6 | Draw a line from D to B. |  |
| 7 | Using the same compasses’ width as used to step along AC, step the compasses from D along DB making 4 new arcs across the line |  |
| 8 | Draw lines between the corresponding points along AC and DB. |  |
| 9 | Done. The lines divide the given line segment AB in to 5 congruent parts. |  |