Straightedge and compass construction of an inscribed equilateral triangle when the circle has no center

286 Views Asked by At

Given a circle, but not its center, construct an inscribed equilateral triangle in as few steps as possible.

I have a construction that works, but I am really having trouble understanding why the construction works. I will attach a photo of my construction below.

enter image description here

2

There are 2 best solutions below

0
On

$\triangle BDF$ is an equilateral triangle, so angle $\angle BDF$ has measure $60$. So $m\angle BGH=m\angle BDH=60$, since these two angles are subtended by the same arc $BH$. And $\triangle BED$ is also equilateral, so the remaining angle $\angle HDG$ on the line $EG$ has measure $60$. But $\angle HBG$ has the same measure as $\angle HDG$, since they are subtended by the same arc $HG$. This establishes that two of the angles in $\triangle BGH$ are $60$.

0
On

Here is an alternative method, which requires identifying a diameter but not the center.

Select any point $A$ on the circle. Center the compasses there and draw an arc through two point $B,C$ on the circle.

Bisect $\angle BAC$, identifying point $D$ as the angle-interior point where the bisector intersects the circle. Center the compasses on each endpoint of $AD$ and draw an arc through the other endpoint, the two arcs intersecting at point $E$ (either of two choices).

Draw $AE$, which intersects the circle at point $F$ such that chord $DF$ measures one side of the triangle, and copy the chord around the circle accordingly.

Also $AF$ measures one side of an inscribed hexagon, so this polygon is obtainable too.