Design and Technology Syllabus 0445
IGCSE
GRAPHIC PRODUCT
CONTENTS
BASIC SHAPES
1. Basic shapes introduction
2. Regular Polygons
3. Across the corners
4. Across the flats
5. Knowing the side length
6. Circles and ellipses
01
INTRODUCTION
Introduction
-Being able to accurately construct a variety of basic shapes, such as circles,
ellipses and polygons, is important for producing accurate drawings of designs.
Even the most complex objects can be drawn as the combination of different
basic shapes.
-Material needed to draw basic shapes:
02
REGULAR POLYGONS
Regular polygons
-A regular polygon is a shape with three or more sides of equal length and
internal angles of equal size.
-To find out the central angle, you can divide 360 by the number of sides e.g.
an hexagon has 6 sides, it’s central angle will be 360/6 = 60
Central angle
Internal angle
Regular polygons
Complete the table:
Number of sides Name Central angle
3 triangle
4 square
5 ?
6 ?
7 ?
8 ?
9 ?
Regular polygons
Across the corners A/C vs Across the flats A/F
-Hexagons and octagons are common geometric
shapes. There are 2 different methods to construct
these regular polygons: Across the corners (A/C)
and Across the flats (A/F).
-Across the corners when the size of the polygon is
given across the corners of the shape.
-Across the flats when the size of the polygon is
given across the edges of the shape.
-Why are we only applying the A/C and A/F
method to hexagons and octagons?
03
ACROSS THE CORNERS A/C
Across the corners A/C
-Hexagon across the corners A/C
Method 1:
B C
r r
A D A D
F E
Step 1: Draw a circle with Step 2: Maintain the same Step 3: Connect the cutting
a diameter that matches the compass dimension and points to create the regular
A/C distance. Locate the utilize point A and D as the hexagon.
horizontal diameter line. centers for the new
semicircular arcs.
Across the corners A/C
-Hexagon across the corners A/C
Method 2:
B C
r 60
A D A D
F E
Step 1: Draw a circle with Step 2: Utilize a protractor Step 3: Connect the cutting
a diameter that matches the to make markings on the points to create the regular
A/C distance. Locate the lines at intervals of 60 hexagon.
horizontal diameter line. degrees, commencing from
the horizontal line 360 /6 =
60
Across the corners A/C
-Octagon across the corners A/C
Method 1:
C
D
B
r 45
A E A E
F
H
G
Step 1: Draw a circle with Step 2: Utilize a protractor Step 3: Connect the cutting
a diameter that matches the to make markings on the points to create the regular
A/C distance. Locate the lines at intervals of 45 octagon.
horizontal diameter line. degrees, commencing from
the horizontal line 360 /8 =
45
04
ACROSS THE FLATS A/F
Across the flats A/F
-Hexagon across the flats A/F
Method 1:
r
A D
Step 1: Draw a circle with a
diameter that matches the Step 2: Use the 60° triangle Step 3: Connect the cutting
A/F distance. Locate the ruler with the horizontal points to create the regular
horizontal diameter line and diameter line as the base to hexagon.
the top and bottom tangent generate four diagonal
line where the center line tangent lines at a 60° angle.
meets the circle.
Across the flats A/F
-Octagon across the flats A/F
Method 1:
B C
A D
A/F
H E
G F
Step 1: Sketch a square Step 2: Draw four arcs with a Step 3: Connect the cutting
where each side measures radius equivalent to the points to create the regular
the same as the A/F distance from each corner to octagon.
distance, and then link the the center of the square,
corners of the square to utilizing the corners of the
determine the center of the square as the center points.
polygon.
05
KNOWING THE SIDE LENGTH
Knowing the side length
-Hexagon knowing the side length
Step 1: Determine the Step 2: starting from point Step 3: Connect the cutting
intersection point of the A and using the side points to create the regular
circumferences with centers in length, mark four hexagon.
A and B by utilizing the equidistant arcs to define
hexagon side length. Then, the corners of the hexagon.
take this intersection point as
the center of the
circumference of the hexagon.
06
CIRCLES AND ELLIPSES
Circles and ellipses
Concentric circle method: recommended if you know the major and minor axis
dimensions. This will be the method applied to the majority of the IGCSE exams.
1. Draw the major and minor axes; draw centre
lines to represent the major and minor axes.
The long centre line on an ellipse is the major
axis. The short centre line is the minor axis.
2. Draw the major and minor circles; draw the
major and minor circles. Divide them up with
30/60° generators as shown.
Circles and ellipses
Concentric circle method: recommended if you know the major and minor axis
dimensions. This will be the method applied to the majority of the IGCSE exams.
4. Triangulate points; draw horizontal lines where
the generators cross the inner circle and vertical
lines where they cross the outer circle. Mark the
12 points where these lines cross.
5. Sketch the ellipse; sketch, freehand, the ellipse
through the 12 points.
