Need help with this quickly- Mariah is debating whether to use a straightedge and compass or a computer drawing program to complete a construction of a regular hexagon inscribed in a circle. Which method do you think would take the longest to complete the construction and why? Describe the difference between the steps needed for each method, and provide two reasons to justify your answer.

Question

caozeyuan · Answer

what the heck?! what sort of math is this?!

anonymous · Answer

I was thinking the same thing...computer stuff is not my thing!!

anonymous · Answer

Geometry

anonymous · Answer

Well, I guess I'd imagine the computer would be easier. I'm not sure about the steps. I guess for the computer program you would have to construct 6 straight lines in a circular formation, with each interior angle being 120 as to add up to 720. Then, determine the radius from the center to the edge of one line (the midpoint, that is) and then construct a circle based on that measure, fitting it into the hexagon so that the edge of the circle meets the midpoint of each line. I computer model may enable you to enter values for lengths or the radius as opposed to handling those measurements manually, that's a difference. Also, the computer would allow you to be more accurate in the representation of the figure, being as it's, well, a computer. That help at all?