Night of the living straight edge

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenge of constructing a perpendicular bisector to a given line segment of unknown length using only a straight edge and a pencil, without measuring the length of the segment. Participants explore various methods and restrictions related to the construction process.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes a method involving placing a rectangle along the line segment, drawing perpendicular lines, and using the diagonals to find the midpoint.
  • Another participant suggests a variation of the problem where the straight edge is infinitely long and can be rotated, but cannot be visually aligned to 90 degrees.
  • A different approach involves folding a napkin to meet the endpoints of the line segment and drawing along the crease, although this raises questions about the legality of using the rectangular nature of the straight edge in classic geometry.
  • One participant proposes a method using a straightedge of adjustable width to create a diamond shape, which can then be used to find the perpendicular bisector.
  • There is a discussion about the limitations of using only plane rotations to create a perpendicular line.
  • Another participant describes a method involving a rectangle and marking points to find the bisector, referencing geometric properties of triangles.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple competing methods for constructing the perpendicular bisector, and there is no consensus on a single correct approach. Some methods are challenged or refined, but disagreements about the legality of certain techniques remain unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention restrictions such as not being able to fold the surface the line segment is on and the implications of using a two-dimensional straight edge versus a classic straight edge and compass approach.

hypermorphism
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This one's just cute, but it's pretty easy (did it on a napkin at McDonald's when I was bored :rolleyes: ). We all know that given a line segment, we can easily construct a perpendicular bisector with a straight edge and a compass. The challenge is to construct a perpendicular bisector to a given line segment of unknown length using only a straight edge, in a finite amount of steps (and a pencil, of course). The straight edge is a rectangle, but cannot be used to measure the length of the line segment.
 
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My answer:
Place the rectangle along the line so that the edge of the rectangle is at the terminating point. Draw a line perpendicular to the segment. Do the same for the other side, and close the resulting rectangle. Draw the two diagonals. They will intersect at the halfway point of the line segment. Repeat this again on the other side of the line so that you have two rectangles of equal length. The two sets of diagonals are at the halfway point along the axis of the line segment, so connecting the two intersection points of the diagonals will bisect the line exactly.

Correct?
 
Yep

That'll do it! There's another way as well, without having to have a right-angle present initially. For those who are still reading, restrict the problem as stated further in this manner: The straight edge is "infinitely long", so you cannot access all four sides, only two parallel sides. It is of adjustable width. You can rotate the straight edge, but of course you cannot tell from sight whether you have rotated it exactly 90 degrees.
 
Fold the napkin so that the endpoints of the line meet. draw a line along the crease with the straight edge.

I'm not sure if you mean to use the 'rectangular' nature of the stright edge or not. In classic straight edge and compass geometry this is illegal.
 
jimmysnyder said:
Fold the napkin so that the endpoints of the line meet. draw a line along the crease with the straight edge.

I'm not sure if you mean to use the 'rectangular' nature of the stright edge or not. In classic straight edge and compass geometry this is illegal.

I knew I was forgetting something. Since I didn't forbid it, it's a valid answer. :smile: An additional restriction is that you cannot fold the surface that the line segment is on.
Also, the reason I allow the straight edge to be 2-dimensional as opposed to its stricter cousin is in order to compensate for something the compass would normally be doing.
 
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Set the width of the straightedge to some width less than the length of the line segment. Position it so that one edge of the straightedge passes over one endpoint of the line segment, and the opposite edge of the straightedge passes over the other endpoint of the line segment. Now trace both sides of the straightedge. Now reverse it, so if endpoint A was with straightedge side 1 and endpoint B was with side 2, A is now with 2 and B is now with 1, and again trace both sides of the straightedge. You now have made a diamond shape with the line segment connecting two corners of the diamond. Draw a line passing through the other two corners of the diamond and this will be the perpendicular bisector to the line segment.[/color]
 
Good job! :smile: Curiously, you cannot create a perpendicular if you just stick to plane rotations.
 
hypermorphism said:
Curiously, you cannot create a perpendicular if you just stick to plane rotations.

How do you mean? BicycleTree's solution works of course just as well when you rotate the straight edge, like this:
 

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Simple if I have a rectangle with diagonal longer than the straight line. Say the rectangle is designated by ABCD and the line by EF. Coincide A and E. Let BC be cut any where by F and mark B. Do it on the other side of the line and mark B'. BB' bisects the original line. (PS: Two lines originating from two edges of diameter form a right angle triangle on the circumference.

I got the clue of reading hidden posts after submitting my reply. One of the guys already answered it.
 
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