When constructing a perpendicular bisector, why must the compass opening be greater than one half the length of the segment?

Question

phi · Answer

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phi · Answer

if the distance is less than 1/2, the 2 circles don't intersect

turingtest · Answer

because if the compass length is less than half the length of the segment the two arcs of the compass will never intersect

jamesj · Answer

Try it for yourself and see.

amistre64 · Answer

the compass length does not NEED to be greater than one half the length of a segment.  but by having it so, it takes less time to do it.