How to Draw Triangles, Squares, Pentagons, Hexagons

How to Draw Triangles, Squares, Pentagons, Hexagons and Other Multi-Faced and Multi-Pointed Forms

Equilateral Triangle – To make an equilateral triangle within a circle. Describe a circle, Fig. A. Without changing the radius place the point of the compass at each of the black dots, starting at the dot Y (at top of circle) and intersect the circle. The formation of the triangle is shown by the dotted lines.

Fig. B shows a simpler manner of making an equilateral triangle. Start at any of the dots, say, dot A, and describe a segment of a circle. At any point, as at dot B, with the compass at the same radius, intersect the first segment. At intersection C place point of compass and intersect the other curves as at Band A. Lines drawn from A to B, B to C, and C to A, as shown in dotted lines, will form the triangle.

Fig. C. To make a hexagon or six-pointed star. Describe a circle. From the point A at the circumference, with a compass (radius remaining the same) intersect the circumference at B. Repeat with C, D, and so forth, until A is intersected.

Lines drawn as shown in dotted lines from A to Band B to C, if continued to D, E, and so forth, will make a hexagon.

For a six-pointed star draw lines as in dotted lines G, H and 1.

For dividing the hexagon into sections, as for rosettes, etc., divide the circumference as for the hexagon or star and project lines as shown in the sample dotted line from E to K. thus to make the six divisions of the drawing.

To Draw a Square – To make an absolutely accurate quadrangle proceed as follows:

Describe a circle as in Fig. I. Bisect it through its center at A to XX. Make a segment of an arc, CC, by placing the point of the compass at X at the left. The line BB is made: the same way from X at the right. A vertical line prolonged through the circle from the intersection of the lines BB and CC and intersecting the horizontal line at A, and continued to the base of the circle, completes four right angles.

On the same drawing (Figs. I and 2 being in reality a single. drawing, but, for the sake of plainness, is made in two diagrams) describe arcs of circles of the same size or circumference, by placing the point of the compass at each X. The segments meet or intersect at EEEE. They also meet the circumference of the original circle at 0000, but this has nothing to do with making the quadrangle or square. Now extend four lines from each E to the other and they will touch the circle at each X. A perfect square is formed by these four lines.

Other Forms Produced by This Operation To Make a Hexagon.

Draw lines as shown at the left of the diagram (Fig. 2) (starting from below) from 0, X, 0, 0, in the dotted lines, proceeding of course all the way around.