Question

question 6 / 6
the following steps describe a compass and straightedge construction.
step 1: given line segment ab, center the compass on point a.
step 2: adjust the compass width to be more than half of the length of the line segment. then, draw an arc above and below line segment ab.
step 3: without changing the size of the compass opening, center the compass on point b and draw an arc above and below line segment ab so that these arcs intersect the other two arcs drawn in step 2.
step 4: using a straightedge, draw a line segment connecting the points where the arcs intersect.
which construction is the result of these steps?
a. copy an angle
b. bisect an angle
c. copy a line segment
d. bisect a line segment

Explanation:

The steps describe a classic compass - and - straightedge construction. By drawing arcs from both endpoints of a line segment with equal compass widths greater than half the segment's length and then connecting the intersection points of those arcs, we create a perpendicular bisector of the line segment, which bisects the line segment.

Answer:

D. bisect a line segment