Dividing a segment into several equal parts

Dividing a segment into several equal parts

• 1.
  Dividing a segmentinto several equal parts
• 2.
  These instructions correspondto the figure above and divide the line into 5 parts. Substitute the desired number in the appropriate places.
• 3.
  Start with aline segment AB that we will divide up into 5 (in this case) equal parts.
• 4.
  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.
• 5.
  Set the compasson A, and set its width to a bit less than one fifth of the length of the new line.
• 6.
  Step the compassalong the line, marking off 5 arcs. Label the last one C.
• 7.
  With the compasswidth set to CB, draw an arc from A just below it.
• 8.
  With the compasswidth set to AC, draw an arc from B crossing the one drawn in step 4. This intersection is point D.
• 9.
  Draw a linefrom D to B.
• 10.
  Using the samecompass width as used to step along AC, step the compass from D along DB making 4 new arcs across the line
• 11.
  Draw lines betweenthe corresponding points along AC and DB.
• 12.
  Done. The linesdivide the given line segment AB in to 5 congruent parts.