LINE SEGMENT OPERATIONS
In geometry, a line segment is a part of a line that is bounded by 
two distinct endpoints, and contains every point on the line 
between its endpoints. Line segments are generally labeled with 
two capital letters corresponding to their endpoints.
1. LINE SEGMENT COPYING
Start with a line 
segment AB that we 
will copy.
STEPS: 
1.Draw a ray from point A´. 
r
STEPS: 
2.With the compass 
take the length AB. 
r
STEPS: 
3.With the length AB kept with 
the compass set the center on 
the ray´s point A´ and draw an 
arc obtaining B´. 
B´ r
r 
STEPS: 
3.With the length AB kept with 
the compass set the center on 
the ray´s point A´ and draw an 
arc obtaining B´.
2. LINE SEGMENTS ADDITION
Given the line segments AB and CD, 
we have to add them up.
STEPS: 
1.Draw a ray from the point A´. 
r
STEPS: 
2.With the compass take the 
length AB and copy it on the 
ray from A´, obtaining B´. 
r
STEPS: 
2.With the compass take the 
length AB and copy it on the 
ray from A´, obtaining B´. 
r
STEPS: 
2.With the compass take the 
length AB and copy it on the 
ray from A´, obtaining B´. 
r
STEPS: 
3.We take the length CD and 
copy it on the ray from B´ 
obtaining the segment C´D´. 
r
STEPS: 
3.We take the length CD and 
copy it on the ray from B´ 
obtaining the segment C´D´. 
r
STEPS: 
3.We take the length CD and 
copy it on the ray from B´ 
obtaining the segment C´D´. 
r
STEPS: 
3.We take the length CD and 
copy it on the ray from B´ 
obtaining the segment C´D´. 
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STEPS: 
4.The solution is the segment 
A´D´. 
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3. LINE SEGMENTS SUBTRACTION
Given the line segments AB and 
CD, we have to construct a 
segment whose length is the 
difference of both of them.
STEPS: 
1.Draw a ray from the 
point A´.
STEPS: 
1.Take with the compass the 
AB length, the longest one, 
and copy it on the ray from 
A´, obtaining B´ (AB line 
segment copying).
STEPS: 
1.Take with the compass the 
AB length, the longest one, 
and copy it on the ray from 
A´, obtaining B´ (AB line 
segment copying).
STEPS: 
1.Take with the compass the 
AB length, the longest one, 
and copy it on the ray from 
A´, obtaining B´ (AB line 
segment copying).
STEPS: 
2.Take with the compass the 
length CD, the smallest 
one, and copy it on the ray 
from A´, obtaining C´D´.
STEPS: 
2.Take with the compass the 
length CD, the smallest 
one, and copy it on the ray 
from A´, obtaining C´D´.
STEPS: 
2.Take with the compass the 
length CD, the smallest 
one, and copy it on the ray 
from A´, obtaining C´D´.
STEPS: 
1.The differences of 
length, length from D´ 
to B´, is the result.
4. LINE SEGMENT MULTIPLICATION
Given a segment AB we 
have to construct a 
segment 3 times longer 
than AB.
STEPS: 
1. Draw a ray from the point A´.
STEPS: 
1. With the compass take the 
length AB and copy it on 
the ray from A´.
STEPS: 
1. With the compass take the 
length AB and copy it on 
the ray from A´.
STEPS: 
2.Repeat the operation three 
times.
STEPS: 
2.Repeat the operation three 
times.
STEPS: 
3.The result is the segment 
A´B´ which is three times as 
long as AB.
5. DIVIDING A SEGMENT INTO SEVERAL EQUAL PARTS
Draw the given segment 
AB. This is the segment 
that we want to divide. 
We are going to divide it 
into 3 parts.
STEPS: 
1.From point A draw an 
oblique ray (r). It doesn´t 
matter the angle you take. 
r
r 
1 
STEPS: 
2.Choose a measure with your 
compass and from point A 
draw arcs on the oblique ray. 
You have to draw as many arcs 
as parts you need.
r 
1 
2 
STEPS: 
2.Choose a measure with your 
compass and from point A 
draw arcs on the oblique ray. 
You have to draw as many arcs 
as parts you need.
r 
1 
2 
3 
STEPS: 
2.Choose a measure with your 
compass and from point A 
draw arcs on the oblique ray. 
You have to draw as many arcs 
as parts you need.
STEPS: 
3.Join the last point of the 
oblique ray, 3, with point B. 
r 
1 
2 
3
STEPS: 
4.Draw parallels using your 
set square to the segment 
3B from the other points on 
the ray. 
r 
1 
2 
3
r 
1 
2 
3 
STEPS: 
4.Draw parallels using your 
set square to the segment 
3B from the other points on 
the ray.
r 
1 
2 
3 
STEPS: 
4.Draw parallels using your 
set square to the segment 
3B from the other points on 
the ray.
r 
1 
2 
3 
STEPS: 
5.The result is the segment 
AB divided into three parts. 
Here we have divided the 
segment into three parts, 
but you can divide the 
segment into as many parts 
as you need.
r 
STEPS: 
5.The result is the segment 
AB divided into three parts. 
Here we have divided the 
segment into three parts, 
but you can divide the 
segment into as many parts 
as you need.

Line segment operations

  • 1.
  • 2.
    In geometry, aline segment is a part of a line that is bounded by two distinct endpoints, and contains every point on the line between its endpoints. Line segments are generally labeled with two capital letters corresponding to their endpoints.
  • 3.
  • 4.
    Start with aline segment AB that we will copy.
  • 5.
    STEPS: 1.Draw aray from point A´. r
  • 6.
    STEPS: 2.With thecompass take the length AB. r
  • 7.
    STEPS: 3.With thelength AB kept with the compass set the center on the ray´s point A´ and draw an arc obtaining B´. B´ r
  • 8.
    r STEPS: 3.Withthe length AB kept with the compass set the center on the ray´s point A´ and draw an arc obtaining B´.
  • 9.
  • 10.
    Given the linesegments AB and CD, we have to add them up.
  • 11.
    STEPS: 1.Draw aray from the point A´. r
  • 12.
    STEPS: 2.With thecompass take the length AB and copy it on the ray from A´, obtaining B´. r
  • 13.
    STEPS: 2.With thecompass take the length AB and copy it on the ray from A´, obtaining B´. r
  • 14.
    STEPS: 2.With thecompass take the length AB and copy it on the ray from A´, obtaining B´. r
  • 15.
    STEPS: 3.We takethe length CD and copy it on the ray from B´ obtaining the segment C´D´. r
  • 16.
    STEPS: 3.We takethe length CD and copy it on the ray from B´ obtaining the segment C´D´. r
  • 17.
    STEPS: 3.We takethe length CD and copy it on the ray from B´ obtaining the segment C´D´. r
  • 18.
    STEPS: 3.We takethe length CD and copy it on the ray from B´ obtaining the segment C´D´. r
  • 19.
    STEPS: 4.The solutionis the segment A´D´. r
  • 20.
    3. LINE SEGMENTSSUBTRACTION
  • 21.
    Given the linesegments AB and CD, we have to construct a segment whose length is the difference of both of them.
  • 22.
    STEPS: 1.Draw aray from the point A´.
  • 23.
    STEPS: 1.Take withthe compass the AB length, the longest one, and copy it on the ray from A´, obtaining B´ (AB line segment copying).
  • 24.
    STEPS: 1.Take withthe compass the AB length, the longest one, and copy it on the ray from A´, obtaining B´ (AB line segment copying).
  • 25.
    STEPS: 1.Take withthe compass the AB length, the longest one, and copy it on the ray from A´, obtaining B´ (AB line segment copying).
  • 26.
    STEPS: 2.Take withthe compass the length CD, the smallest one, and copy it on the ray from A´, obtaining C´D´.
  • 27.
    STEPS: 2.Take withthe compass the length CD, the smallest one, and copy it on the ray from A´, obtaining C´D´.
  • 28.
    STEPS: 2.Take withthe compass the length CD, the smallest one, and copy it on the ray from A´, obtaining C´D´.
  • 29.
    STEPS: 1.The differencesof length, length from D´ to B´, is the result.
  • 30.
    4. LINE SEGMENTMULTIPLICATION
  • 31.
    Given a segmentAB we have to construct a segment 3 times longer than AB.
  • 32.
    STEPS: 1. Drawa ray from the point A´.
  • 33.
    STEPS: 1. Withthe compass take the length AB and copy it on the ray from A´.
  • 34.
    STEPS: 1. Withthe compass take the length AB and copy it on the ray from A´.
  • 35.
    STEPS: 2.Repeat theoperation three times.
  • 36.
    STEPS: 2.Repeat theoperation three times.
  • 37.
    STEPS: 3.The resultis the segment A´B´ which is three times as long as AB.
  • 38.
    5. DIVIDING ASEGMENT INTO SEVERAL EQUAL PARTS
  • 39.
    Draw the givensegment AB. This is the segment that we want to divide. We are going to divide it into 3 parts.
  • 40.
    STEPS: 1.From pointA draw an oblique ray (r). It doesn´t matter the angle you take. r
  • 41.
    r 1 STEPS: 2.Choose a measure with your compass and from point A draw arcs on the oblique ray. You have to draw as many arcs as parts you need.
  • 42.
    r 1 2 STEPS: 2.Choose a measure with your compass and from point A draw arcs on the oblique ray. You have to draw as many arcs as parts you need.
  • 43.
    r 1 2 3 STEPS: 2.Choose a measure with your compass and from point A draw arcs on the oblique ray. You have to draw as many arcs as parts you need.
  • 44.
    STEPS: 3.Join thelast point of the oblique ray, 3, with point B. r 1 2 3
  • 45.
    STEPS: 4.Draw parallelsusing your set square to the segment 3B from the other points on the ray. r 1 2 3
  • 46.
    r 1 2 3 STEPS: 4.Draw parallels using your set square to the segment 3B from the other points on the ray.
  • 47.
    r 1 2 3 STEPS: 4.Draw parallels using your set square to the segment 3B from the other points on the ray.
  • 48.
    r 1 2 3 STEPS: 5.The result is the segment AB divided into three parts. Here we have divided the segment into three parts, but you can divide the segment into as many parts as you need.
  • 49.
    r STEPS: 5.Theresult is the segment AB divided into three parts. Here we have divided the segment into three parts, but you can divide the segment into as many parts as you need.