How to Graph Circles of Apollonius in 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 v

1.
Open Algebra View and Graphics View under GeoGebra icon View in GeoGebra icon Menu.
2.
Select the Segment GeoGebra icon tool and draw a line segment in Graphics View.
3.
Select the Perpendicular Bisector GeoGebra icon tool to draw the perpendicular bisector of the line segment.
4.
Select the Point on Object GeoGebra icon tool and draw a point on your line segment. The point will usually get the name C.
5.
Select the Circle with Center through Point GeoGebra icon tool, and click C, then A. You should get a circle with the arc AB, which is the segment from A that extends counterclockwise toward B.
6.
Select the Angle GeoGebra icon tool and click the points A, C, and B, in that order. This angle is called the central angle α, which is subtended by the arc AB.
7.
Adjust the position of point C so that angle α is twice as big as v—that is, α = 2v.
8.
Select the Point on Object GeoGebra icon tool and draw a point on the circle which is not on the arc AB. The point will usually get the name D.
9.
Select the Angle GeoGebra icon tool and click the points A, D, and B, in that order. This angle is called an inscribed angle, which is subtended by the arc AB.

Adjust point D. As long as D doesn’t cross A or B, you’ll see that every inscribed angle subtended by the arc AB will always have the same size as v! You’ve just drawn the Circle of Apollonius for the angle v = α 2 .

In the image below, the line segment AB is hidden.

Screenshot of GeoGebra showing the Circle of Apollonius

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