Question 21
If their midpoints are marked, will you be able to construct a pointed arch?

IT-21
Chapter: CONSTRUCTIONS AND TILINGS
Class: 7 (Class 7)
Category: in_text
Question
If their midpoints are marked, will you be able to construct a pointed arch?
Question diagram(s):

A pointed arch is typically formed by two circular arcs. To draw a circular arc, we need to know its center and its radius.
Step 1 — Identify the components of the arch
Let us look at the top diagram. The pointed arch is made of two curved lines. These curves meet at the top point. They start from the bottom points. The blue straight lines connect the top point to the bottom points. The black curves are inside the region formed by the blue lines. This means the curves are concave towards the center of the arch.
Step 2 — Understand the given information
Let us look at the bottom diagram. It shows a V-shape. Let the top point of the V-shape be A. Let the bottom left point be B. Let the bottom right point be C. So, we have two line segments, AB and AC. The dots on these segments are their midpoints. Let M be the midpoint of segment AB. Let N be the midpoint of segment AC.
Step 3 — Relate midpoints to arch construction
To construct a circular arc that passes through two points, its center must lie on the perpendicular bisector of the line segment connecting these two points. For the left arc of the pointed arch, it will pass through points A and B. The center of this left arc, let us call it , must lie on the perpendicular bisector of segment AB. Since M is the midpoint of AB, we can draw the perpendicular bisector of AB. This line passes through M and is perpendicular to AB. Similarly, for the right arc, it will pass through points A and C. The center of this right arc, let us call it , must lie on the perpendicular bisector of segment AC. Since N is the midpoint of AC, we can draw the perpendicular bisector of AC. This line passes through N and is perpendicular to AC.
Step 4 — Conclude if construction is possible
The midpoints M and N allow us to draw the perpendicular bisectors of the segments AB and AC. These perpendicular bisectors are crucial lines. They contain the centers of the circular arcs forming the pointed arch. While we might need one more piece of information to find the exact centers, the midpoints are essential for this type of construction. Therefore, we can use them to construct a pointed arch.
Answer
Yes, if their midpoints are marked, we will be able to construct a pointed arch. The midpoints allow us to draw the perpendicular bisectors of the segments, which are necessary to find the lines containing the centers of the circular arcs that form the arch.

More questions in IT
How do we find such A and B?
From X and Y, draw arcs above and below XY, with the same radii. The two points at which the arcs meet, above and below XY, give us A and B, respectively.
Use this to construct an eye.
In Fig. 6.1, join A and B with a line. Where does AB intersect XY, and what is the angle formed between them?
Will the line joining the two points at which the arcs meet, above and below XY, always be the perpendicular bisector of XY, i.e., when XY is of any length, and the arcs are drawn using a radius of any length?
Which two triangles should be congruent for AB to be the perpendicular bisector of XY (that is, O is the midpoint of XY and AB is perpendicular to XY)?
How do we get these different shapes? Try!
Will C and D lie on the perpendicular bisector AB?
Justify the following statement using the facts that we have established.
Any point that has the same distance from X and Y lies on the perpendicular bisector of XY.
Given a line segment XY, how do we draw its perpendicular bisector using only an unmarked ruler and a compass?
Can we extend the method of constructing the perpendicular bisector to construct a 90° angle at any point on a line? Draw a line and mark a point O on it. Construct a 90° angle at point O.
Find a segment of this line for which O is the midpoint.
How do we construct this figure?
What is the angle between two adjacent lines?
How do we construct a 45° angle using only a ruler and a compass?
Construct the following figure.
Draw an angle. Create a copy of this angle using only a ruler and compass.
How do we implement this idea using a ruler and a compass?
How did they make these arches?
Construct this arch shape on a piece of paper.
Let us think about the support lines this figure will need.
For symmetry, we should have , and . How would you construct these support lines?
Use these support lines to construct an arch. If required, adjust the radii of the arcs to make the arch look more aesthetically pleasing.
How do we construct this shape?
What supporting lines will you use to draw this arch?
Remember 'Wavy Wave' from the Grade 6 Textbook?
The supporting lines are just two line segments of equal length.
If their midpoints are marked, will you be able to construct a pointed arch?
How do we construct a regular pentagon (5-sided figure) and a regular hexagon (6-sided figure)? To begin with, try to construct a pentagon and hexagon with equal sidelengths.
Can we break a regular hexagon into smaller pieces that can be constructed?
Can six congruent equilateral triangles be placed together as in Fig. 6.12? If yes, will it result in a regular hexagon?
Consider this figure. Will the 70° angle fit into the gap? What is the gap angle ?
We have, .
Use this to determine whether the 70° angle fits the gap.
In Fig. 6.12 can you explain why AOD, BOE and COF are straight lines?
Construct a regular hexagon with a sidelength 4 cm using a ruler and a compass.
Context: We can construct a regular hexagon more directly if we can construct a 120° angle using a ruler and a compass.
Q. How do we do it?
Why is ? Is there an equilateral triangle here?
Construct a regular hexagon of sidelength 5 cm.
How will you construct 30° and 15° angles?
Construct the following 6-pointed star. Note that it has a rotational symmetry.
Are the six triangles forming the 6 points of the star — AGH, BHI, CIJ, DJK, ELK, FLG — equilateral? Why?
[Hint: Find the angles.]
Can a grid be tiled using multiple copies of tiles? We are allowed to rotate a tile and use it.
Can a grid be tiled using tiles?
What about a grid?
Complete the justification.
Is an grid tileable with tiles, if both and are even? If yes, come up with a general strategy to tile it.
Is an grid tileable with tiles, if one of and is even and the other is odd? If yes, come up with a general strategy to tile it.
Is an grid tileable with tiles, if both and are odd? Give reasons.
Here is a grid, with a unit square removed. Now, it has an even number of unit squares. Is it tileable with tiles?
Is the following region tileable with tiles?
Context: We are considering whether a given region can be tiled using tiles.
Q. What about this one?
Were you able to tile this? How can we be sure that this is not tileable? Can you find another unit square that, when removed from a grid, makes it non-tileable?
If the plain grid is tileable, is the black-and-white-grid tileable?
If the black-and-white grid is tileable, is the plain grid tileable?
Use this idea to find another unit square that, when removed from a 5 × 3 grid, makes it non-tileable?