Semicircle
In mathematics (more specifically geometry), a semicircle is a two-dimensional geometric shape that forms half of a circle. Being half of a circle's full angle, the arc of a semicircle, called a straight angle always measures 180°, π radians, or a half-turn.
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Uses [edit]
A semicircle can be used to construct the arithmetic and geometric means of two lengths using straight-edge and compass. If we make a semicircle with a diameter of a+b, then the length of its radius is the arithmetic mean of a and b (since the radius is half of the diameter). The geometric mean can be found by dividing the diameter into two segments of lengths a and b, and then connecting their common endpoint to the semicircle with a segment perpendicular to the diameter. The length of the resulting segment is the geometric mean,[1] which can be proved using the Pythagorean theorem. This can be used to accomplish quadrature of a rectangle (since a square whose sides are equal to the geometric mean of the sides of a rectangle has the same area as the rectangle), and thus of any figure for which we can construct a rectangle of equal area, such as any polygon (but not a circle).
