Microsoft Word, and Geometers Sketchpad Activity

In this activity you will create a Microsoft Word document with screenshots from
Geometers Sketchpad and conclusions you make based on your observations.

Create a folder “Geometry” in your server folder. (Right click / New / Folder)

Open Microsoft Office – Type your full name at the top of the document, followed by
class period. Immediately Save As to the Geometry Folder in our server space with a file
name in the format of Last Name + First Initial + Period. As you work through this
assignment, make sure you save your document often.

Open Geometers Sketchpad (GSP 4.06).

Follow the directions for each activity. Pay attention to details and make sure all
questions are answered on your Microsoft Word Document. Do this by first copying the
questions into your Word document, then answering them by using a different font so
your answers stand out.
Technology Activity
SKETCHPAD
1. Draw a triangle. Choose the segment straightedge tool and draw triangle
ABC. (Hold down the mouse to begin the segment. Release the mouse to finish the
segment.)
2. Measure the angles. Select points A, B and C. Measure / Angle. Repeat for the
other two angles in the triangle.
3. Calculate the total of all the angles. Measure / Calculate… Click on one of the
angle measurements, + another angle measurement + the remaining angle
measurement.
4. Measure each of the segment lengths. Select both endpoints - Measure / Distance.
OR Select a line segment - Measure / Length.
5. Move the vertices around the screen. Select one of the vertices. Move it around.
What happens to the triangle? (What happens to the other vertices?)
6. Move a segment of the triangle around the screen. . Select one of the segments.
Move it around. What happens to the triangle?
7. Copy your sketch to your Word Document. Alt-PrntScrn (While holding down Alt
press Prnt Scrn). Goto your Word Document, where you want to place the sketch,
and Paste (Ctrl-V) into your document.

Questions: (Place these questions and your answers in your Word Document)

1. What is the total of all the angle measurements of a triangle? Always?

2. Arrange the labels as shown below. When you change the triangle, how do the side
lengths compare to the angle opposite that side? (Note: Angles are grouped with
opposite sides)
m ∠CAB = 13.91 ° BC = 1.83 cm
m ∠CBA = 59.30 ° CA = 6.54 cm

m ∠BCA = 106.79 ° AB = 7.28 cm

m ∠CBA+m ∠CAB+m∠BCA = 180.00 °

A
C

B
SKETCHPAD
1. Draw two intersecting segments.. Choose the segment straightedge tool and draw
two intersecting segments.
2. Label all points. Select a point, Display / Label Point. Also select the intersection
and label that point.
3. Display all four angle measurements. Select three points, the middle point must be
the vertex. Measure / Angle
4. Display the sum of two angles that are a linear pair. Measure / Calculate… Click
on one of the angle measurements, + another angle measurement.
5. Copy your sketch to your Word Document.

Your sketch should resemble:

m ∠AEB = 138.13 °
m ∠AED = 41.87 °
C
m ∠DEC = 138.13 ° D
m ∠CEB = 41.87 °

m ∠AEB+m∠AED = 180.00 °
E

Questions:
1. How many linear pairs are there? Display the sum of all linear pairs.

2. What happens when you move one of the points around the screen? Which angles are
equal?

3. What happens when you move a point so the lines do not intersect?

Angle bisectors – Use the Construct command to create an angle bisector for your sketch.
In order to construct an angle bisector, you need to first select the angle. (Select three
points that name the angle.)
Make your bisector a dotted line. Use Measure to calculate both angles made with the
bisector. (You will have to add a point on the bisector line.) . Use the Measure /
Calculate… command to display the sum of the two angles created with the bisector.
Copy your sketch to your Word Document.
SKETCHPAD
1. Draw a line
2. Place a point.
3. Construct the line parallel to the original line. (Select the point and the line, then
construct parallel line
4. Draw a line that crosses both lines. (This line is called a transversal))
5. Construct intersections – Construct the intersections.
6. Measure all the angles.
7. Copy your sketch to your Word Document.

Questions:
1. Which angles are congruent? Are they always congruent if you move the lines?
2. How many different angle measurements are there?
3. What do the distinct angle measures add up to?

SKETCHPAD

1. Draw a triangle.
2. For each side, construct the perpendicular bisectors for each of the three sides. Do
they meet? Construct the intersection.
3. Find the distance this point is away from the vertices. What do you notice?
4. What is this point called? (Use Google to find out)
5. Can you construct a circle that has this point as the center and includes all the
vertices?
6. Where is this point when your triangle is obtuse? Acute? Right?

Copy your sketch to your Word Document.

SKETCHPAD

1. Draw a triangle.
2. For each side, construct the angle bisectors for each of the three angles. Do they
meet? Construct the intersection.
3. Find the distance this point is away from the sides. What do you notice?
4. What is this point called? (Use Google to find out)
5. Can you construct a circle that touches all the sides?

Copy your sketch to your Word Document.

SKETCHPAD

Can you construct a square? A parallelogram? A rhombus?