Question

Larry wants to inscribe an equilateral triangle in a circle using only a compass and straightedge. He will first construct a circle and locate its center. He will then perform the following steps. Step 1: Set the width of the compass to the diameter of the circle. Step 2: Plot a point on the circle. Place the compass on this point and draw two arcs to cut the circle. These two points of intersection between the arcs and the circle represent two of the vertices. Step 3: Draw a segment between the two vertices. Adjust the width of the compass to the length of the segment. Place the compass on one vertex and draw an arc to construct the third vertex. Step 4: Draw a line from one vertex to the next to form an equilateral triangle. What is the error in Larry's construction?

Answer 1

He set the width of the compass to the diameter of the circle.