How do you construct a parellelogram using a compass and a straightedge?

Do you know the sides of the parallelogram or any angle of the parallelogram? If so, these directions will not work! But if you just need to construct a parallelogram here is how it goes--first draw the two lengths that you want to use for the two sides of the parallelogram--call one segment a and the other segment b:

Now draw an angle on your paper---label the vertex X---take your compass and measure segment a--put the point of your compass (the sharp point!) on point X and strike an arc that intersects the horizontal side of the angle you drew (label that point Y)---now take your compass and measure segment b---put the point of the compass on point X and strike an arc that intersects the OTHER side of the angle you drew (label that point W)--now (WITHOUT changing the length on your compass--it should still be the length of segment b) put the point of your compass on point Y and make an are (about 90 degrees or so above point Y)--now use your compass to remeasure the length of segment a and put the point of the compass on point W and strike an arc that intersects the last arc you drew (the one above point Y)---the point of intersection between those two arcs is the fourth vertex of your parallelogram--call it Z--now use your straightedge to connect point Y with Z and point W with Z---you should now have parallelogram XYZW---if you are asked to justify that it is a parallelogram--you made opposite sides equal--so therefore it is a parallelogram!

hope you were able to follow along!

Draw two small circles side by side with compass then use straight edge to draw a line across the lowest part of each circle then another across the highest part of each, make sure these lines are exact same length. This will give you 2 parallel lines. If you then link those lines going straight through the edge of the circle at both ends those 2 lines should also be parallel giving you a parallelogram.

You can't. Get a pencil first.

Then use the compass to find the angle you want, and keep it at that angle. Trace the angle, and then make straight lines with the straightedge. Repeat.