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Straightedge


An idealized mathematical object having a rigorously straight edge which can be used to draw a line segment. Although geometric constructions are sometimes said to be performed with a ruler and compass, the term straightedge is preferable to ruler since markings on the straightedge (usually assumed to be present on a ruler) are not allowed by the classical Greek rules.


See also

Compass, Euclidean Tools, Geometric Construction, Geometrography, Mascheroni Construction, Polygon, Poncelet-Steiner Theorem, Ruler, Simplicity, Steiner Construction

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Cite this as:

Weisstein, Eric W. "Straightedge." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource. https://mathworld.wolfram.com/Straightedge.html

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