NCERT Solutions
Class 10 Maths
Constructions

Ex.11.1 Q.1
Draw a line segment of length 7.6 cm and divide it in the ratio 5: 8.
Measure the two parts. Give the justification of the construction.
A line segment of length 7.6 cm can be divided in the ratio of 5: 8 as follows:
Step 1. Draw line segment AB of 7.6 cm and draw a ray AX making an acute angle with line segment AB.
Step 2. Locate 13 (= 5 + 8) points, A1, A2, A3, A4 ,........, A13 on AX such that AA1 = A1 A2 = A2 A3 and so on.
Step 3. Join BA13.
Step 4. Through the point A5, draw a line parallel to BA13 (by making an angle equal to ∠AA13 B) at A5 intersecting AB at point C.
Now, C is the point dividing line segment AB of 7.6 cm in the required ratio of 5: 8.
The lengths of AC and CB can be measured. It comes out to 2.9 cm and 4.7 cm respectively.
Justification:
The construction can be justified by proving that
=
By construction, we have A5 C || A13 B.
By applying Basic proportionality theorem for the triangle AA13 B, we obtain
= AA5 ÷ A5 A13 …………... (1)
From the figure, it can be observed that AA5 and A5A13 contain 5 and 8 equal divisions of line segments respectively.
AA5 ÷ A5 A13 = ……….... (2)
On comparing equations (1) and (2), we obtain
=
This justifies the construction.