GeoGebra
You can use GeoGebra to draw the Circle of Apollonius.
Item 9 below involves drawing objects from entries about drawing line segments, constructing perpendicular bisectors and drawing circles. You should revise how to draw these objects in GeoGebra before continuing.
Example 1
Circle of Apollonius for an Angle
- 1.
- Open
Algebra ViewandGraphics ViewunderViewinMenu. - 2.
- Select the
Segmenttool and draw a line segment in
Graphics View. - 3.
- Select the
Perpendicular Bisectortool to draw the perpendicular bisector of the line segment.
- 4.
- Select the
Point on Objecttool and draw a point on your line segment. The point will usually get the name
C. - 5.
- Select the
Circle with Center through Pointtool, and click
C, thenA. You should get a circle with the arc , which is the segment from that extends counterclockwise toward . - 6.
- Select the
Angletool and click the points
A,C, andB, in that order. This angle is called the central angle , which is subtended by the arc . - 7.
- Adjust the position of point so that angle is twice as big as —that is, .
- 8.
- Select the
Point on Objecttool and draw a point on the circle which is not on the arc . The point will usually get the name
D. - 9.
- Select the
Angletool and click the points
A,D, andB, in that order. This angle is called an inscribed angle, which is subtended by the arc .
Adjust point D. As long as D doesn’t cross A or B, you’ll see that every inscribed angle subtended by the arc will always have the same size as ! You’ve just drawn the Circle of Apollonius for the angle .
In the image below, the line segment is hidden.