How to Construct an Octagon with a Compass

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If you want to draw an octagon shape using your compass, you've come to the right place. In this article, we'll explain how you can easily draw a series of lines and points that will ultimately form an octagon. If you're ready to get started, scroll down!

1

Lay the sheet of paper on a flat surface.

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  1. Gather your materials and set up your work space. You will need:
    • A mechanical compass with pencil
    • A pencil eraser
    • A ruler
    • A spare pencil (recommended)
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2

Draw a horizontal line across the middle of the sheet.

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  1. Make the line 9 inches long. For best results, use light pencil markings.
3

Find the midway point at 4.5 inches.

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8c\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA3-1.jpg\/460px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA3-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8c\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA3-1.jpg\/560px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA3-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":460,"bigWidth":560,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will be the center of your octagon.
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4

Put your compass next to the ruler.

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/37\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA4-1.jpg\/460px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA4-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/37\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA4-1.jpg\/560px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA4-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":460,"bigWidth":560,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Adjust it to 3 inches.
5

Put the compass needle on point A and the pencil tip on the line.

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/95\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA5-1.jpg\/460px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA5-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/95\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA5-1.jpg\/728px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA5-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":547,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
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6

Use one hand to hold the compass handle.

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/59\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA6.jpg\/460px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/59\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA6.jpg\/714px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":361,"bigWidth":714,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Be careful since the compass needle is sharp.
7

Find the 2 points where the line and circle intersect.

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/96\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA7.jpg\/460px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/96\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA7.jpg\/560px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":460,"bigWidth":560,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Label the second point on the right "C."
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8

Put the compass needle on point C and the pencil on point A.

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/01\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA8.jpg\/460px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/01\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA8.jpg\/560px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":460,"bigWidth":560,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
9

Twist counterclockwise to create an arc intersecting the circle.

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/2f\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA9.jpg\/460px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2f\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA9.jpg\/560px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":460,"bigWidth":560,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
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10

Find the 2 points where the arc intersects the circle.

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/01\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA10.jpg\/460px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA10.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/01\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA10.jpg\/560px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA10.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":460,"bigWidth":560,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
11

Draw a vertical line segment to connect points D and E.

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/67\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA12.jpg\/460px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA12.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/67\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA12.jpg\/560px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA12.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":460,"bigWidth":560,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
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12

Find where the line segment DE intersects the line.

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/24\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA12-1.jpg\/460px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA12-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/24\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA12-1.jpg\/560px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA12-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":460,"bigWidth":560,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
13

Put the compass needle on point F and the pencil on point A.

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/12\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA13.jpg\/460px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA13.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/12\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA13.jpg\/560px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA13.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":460,"bigWidth":560,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
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14

Twist your hand to create an arc intersecting line segment DE.

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/83\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA14.jpg\/460px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA14.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/83\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA14.jpg\/560px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA14.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":460,"bigWidth":560,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
15

Label the intersection between points D and F point "G."

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b3\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA15.jpg\/460px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA15.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b3\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA15.jpg\/560px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA15.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":460,"bigWidth":560,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Then, place the ruler across the circle, lining it up next to points A and H.
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16

Draw a diameter containing points A and H across the circle.

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ef\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA16.jpg\/460px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA16.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ef\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA16.jpg\/560px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA16.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":460,"bigWidth":560,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
17

Label the upper point "I" and the lower point "J."

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ef\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA17.jpg\/460px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA17.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ef\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA17.jpg\/560px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA17.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":460,"bigWidth":560,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
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18

Align the ruler along points A and G.

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/77\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA19.jpg\/460px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA19.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/77\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA19.jpg\/728px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA19.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":547,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Make sure the line intersects the circle at 2 more points. Label the 2 new intersections as follows.
    • The upper right most intersection should be called point K.
    • The lower left most intersection should be called point L.
19

Put the compass needle on point K and the pencil on point C.

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/bf\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA20.jpg\/460px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA20.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/bf\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA20.jpg\/728px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA20.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":547,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
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20

Twist to make an arc intersecting the circle at a new point.

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/33\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA22.jpg\/460px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA22.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/33\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA22.jpg\/728px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA22.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":547,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
21

Put the compass needle on point J and the pencil tip on point C.

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/aa\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA23.jpg\/460px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA23.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/aa\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA23.jpg\/728px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA23.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":547,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
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22

Twist counterclockwise to create an arc intersecting the circle at a new point.

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/15\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA24.jpg\/460px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA24.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/15\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA24.jpg\/728px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA24.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":547,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
23

Line up the ruler against the points B and I.

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/96\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA25.jpg\/460px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA25.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/96\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA25.jpg\/636px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA25.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":405,"bigWidth":636,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
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24

Connect the 2 points with a line to make line segment BI.

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/61\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA26.jpg\/460px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA26.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/61\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA26.jpg\/728px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA26.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":547,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    • Points I and M, creating line segment IM
    • Points M and K, creating line segment MK
    • Points K and C, creating line segment KC
    • Points C and J, creating line segment CJ
    • Points J and N, creating line segment JN
    • Points N and L, creating line segment NL
    • Finally points L and B, creating line segment LB
25

Look for your octagon.

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6f\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA28.jpg\/460px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA28.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6f\/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA28.jpg\/728px-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA28.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":547,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You have successfully created an octagon using a compass and a straightedge.
    • As you can see, this is why its better to use light marks. Otherwise, your drawing may have this hard-to-erase marks left over.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Does it have to be 6 inches?
    AnonymousSuperWriter
    Community Answer
    No, but it has to be somewhere proportionate. For example, you can also make the diameter 3 inches, meaning that you will have to reduce the other measurements by 50%.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 6 Helpful 5
  • Question
    I need to construct the one with sides 5cm. How many inches will I use for the parameter?
    Duck Woman Thing YT
    Community Answer
    1 inch is about 2 and a half centimeters, so 5 centimeters would be about 4 and a half inches.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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  • Question
    How to get eight equal sides?
    Community Answer
    Use a ruler! Rulers are helpful in many ways. You can also find shapes with 8 equal sides and copy it.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Warnings

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      Things You'll Need

      • A mechanical compass with pencil
      • A pencil eraser
      • A ruler
      • A spare pencil (recommended)


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