Constructing a right angle in ancient ways using string

Constructing right angles has been an important skill for a long time, for many practical
activities such as agriculture, building and many more. Here you have four methods used
in ancient times in order to set a right angle, without the use of Geometrical instruments.
They have been adapted to suit our tools, that is string, paper, pins and pencil.

1. The Pythagoras method
2. The Maya method
3. The Egyptian method
4. The Thales method

1. The Pythagoras method:

Take a long piece of string and tie 13 knots in it. It doesnt
matter how far apart they are, just as long as they are the
same distance apart. Lay the string out in a triangle with
knots at the corners and three gaps between knots on one
side, four on the next and five on the final side. Stretch the
string taut and pin it.
Prove to your classmates that this makes a triangle with a
right angle.
After http://www.scienceprojectideas.co.uk/make-right-
angle-with-knots-string.html

2. The Maya method

The Mayans used a cord to form right angles, using a
method introduced by a master builder who had learned
it while a shaman apprentice - or so the story tells. The
method uses a knotted cord and properties of equilateral
triangles. The cord has eight knots on it, dividing the
cord into seven equal segments with a knot at each end.
There are loops at each of the knots for staking to the
ground or, in your case, pin it. Since the knots are
evenly spaced, when knots 1 and 4 are held together
and the cord pulled taut, an equilateral triangle is
formed. Then knot 6 is joined with knot 3 and the cord
pulled tight resulting in another equilateral triangle
formed by knots 4, 5 and 6. Finally knot 8 is joined with knot 5 forming a third
equilateral triangle (and all together, half of a hexagon). If one runs a ray (or string) from
knot 1 through knot 2 and another ray from knot 1 through knot 7, the resulting angle is a
right angle.
Prove to your classmates that this angle has 90 degrees.
After http://www.maa.org/publications/periodicals/convergence/maya-geometry-in-the-
classroom-making-a-right-angle-the-maya-way
3. The Egyptian method

There's another sure way of achieving 90 degrees
that may have predated the above methods and
which has been posited as being used by the
Ancient Egyptians.
Take one stick, tie a length of string to it (near the
stick's nominal base works best), then tie the other
end of the string to the other stick in the same
way. Pin a new string to form a straight line. The
line should be about twice the length of the string
between the sticks for this demonstration. Place one stick at any point on the straight line,
pull the string taut and draw a circle around the first stick. Repeat the process further
along the straight line, so that the second circle intersects with the first circle. Set a new
string to form a line B across the first string line A that joins the intersection points of the
two circles. Line B will always be at right angles to line A.
Prove to your classmates that lines A and B are perpendicular.
After http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Right-Angle-with-a-String-and-Two-Sticks

4. The Thales method

Start with a string making a ray with endpoint A. The right angle
will have A as its vertex. Pin to mark a point not on the given
line, about 6 cm from one of its endpoints. Its exact location is
not important. Label it D. Make a string compasses as for the
previous method set its width to match the distance between A
and D. Place one stick in D and draw an arc that crosses the
given line and extends over and above the chosen endpoint. (If
you prefer, draw a complete circle.) Set a diameter through D
from the point where the arc crosses the given line. Set a string line a line from the
chosen endpoint to the endpoint of the diameter line. Done. The last line is perpendicular
to the given line.
Prove the perpendicularity to your classmates.
After http://www.mathopenref.com/printangle90.html