Question

Draw a rectangle whose two adjacent sides are 5 cm and 3.5 cm. Make use of a pair of compasses and a ruler only.

Answer 1

Construction steps:

1. Draw a ray AX.
2. With A as the centre, cut the ray AX at B such that AB is equal to 5 cm.
3. With B as the centre and any convenient radius, draw an arc cutting AX at M and N.
4. With N as the centre and radius more than half of MN, draw an arc.
5. With M as the centre and the same radius as before, draw another arc to cut the previous arc at Y.
6. Draw BY and produce it to W.
7. With B as the centre and a radius of 3.5 cm, cut ray BW at point C.
8. With C as the centre and a radius of 5 cm, draw an arc on the right side of BC.
9. With A as the centre and a radius of 3.5 cm, draw an arc cutting the previous arc at D.
10. Join CD and AD.
ABCD is the required rectangle.