Basic GSP Constructions

Introduction to GSP

There are six GSP tools.

    1.  The arrow tool is used to select and deselect objects.

    2.  The point tool is used to construction points.

    3.  The circle tool is used to construction circles.

    4.  The straight-object tool is used to construct segments, rays, and lines.

    5.  The hand tool is used to label objects and create text boxes.

    6.  The help tool is used for help.

Basic Constructions

1.    Use GSP to construct a point.

            Click on the point tool.  Click somewhere in the work space to create a point.

2.    Label the point.

            Click on the hand tool.  Click on the point.  GSP will choose a label for the point.  
            If you want to change the label, double click on the label and type a new label in the box.

3.    Use GSP to construct a line.

            Click on the straight-object too.  Click on the line.
            Click somewhere in the work space, and drag to anoother place in the work space.

4.    Label the line in two different ways.

            1.  Click on the hand tool. Click on the line.  You can change the label if you do not like the label that GSP chooses.
            2.  Click on the hand tool.  Label each point as you did in # 2 above.

5.    Use GSP to construct a ray, and label the ray in two different ways.

            Use # 3 and # 4 above to figure out how to do this.  

6.    Use GSP to construct a segment, and label the segment in two different ways.

7.    Spend a few minutes becoming familiar with GSP.

            --  Try using some of the other tools.
            --  Explore the display menu.  Figure out how to change the line style and line color.

Measuring Using GSP

1.    Construct a segment.  Measure the distance of the segment.  There are two ways to do this:

            1.  Click on the arrow tool.  Highlight the segment by clicking on it.
                    Click measure and then length.
                    The length will show up on your workspace.  Do you see it?

            2.  Click on the arrow tool.  Highlight one endpoint of the segment by clicking on it.
                    Highlight the other endpoint by holding down the shift key and clicking on the endpoint.
                    Click measure and then distance.
                    Then distance will show up on your workspace.  Do you see it?
                    It should be the same as the length that you measures above.

2.    Construct an angle and measure it.

            Highlight each of the three points that determine the angle in order.  (The vertex of the angle should be in the middle.)
            Click measure and then angle.
            The angle measure will show up on your workspace.  Do you see it?

3.    Explore the measure menu.  What else can you measure?