Using a collapsible compass and a straightedge, how many moves are required to construct an inscribed square of a circle, given the circle, its centre and a vertex of the square (this vertex is on the circumference)?
Please refer to the terminology in this note for further definitions. See other problems in this set .
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Let the centre of the circle be O , and the vertex A .
Draw a circle centred at A passing through O . Let the intersections with the circle be P and Q . (1 move)
Draw a circle centred at P passing through Q . Let it intersect the circle centred at O again at C . (2 moves)
Draw line O P . Let it intersect the circle centred at P at E and F . (3 moves)
Draw C E and C F . Let these lines intersect the circle centred at O at B and D . (5 moves)
Draw A B and A D . (7 moves)
Here, A B C D is the square we wished to produce, and it took 7 moves.