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A straightedge is a tool with an accurately straight edge used for drawing or cutting straight lines, or checking the straightness of lines. If it has equally spaced markings along its length it is usually called a ruler
Ruler

A ruler, or rule, is an Measuring instrument used in geometry, technical drawing and engineering/building to measure distances and/or to rule straight lines....
.

True straightness can in some cases be checked by using a laser line level
Laser line level

A laser line level is a tool combining a spirit level and/or plumb bob with a laser to display an accurately horizontal or vertical illuminated line on a surface the laser line level is laid against....
 as an optical straightedge: it can illuminate an accurately straight line on a flat surface such as the edge of a plank or shelf.

It is possible to do all compass and straightedge constructions without the straightedge.






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A straightedge is a tool with an accurately straight edge used for drawing or cutting straight lines, or checking the straightness of lines. If it has equally spaced markings along its length it is usually called a ruler
Ruler

A ruler, or rule, is an Measuring instrument used in geometry, technical drawing and engineering/building to measure distances and/or to rule straight lines....
.

True straightness can in some cases be checked by using a laser line level
Laser line level

A laser line level is a tool combining a spirit level and/or plumb bob with a laser to display an accurately horizontal or vertical illuminated line on a surface the laser line level is laid against....
 as an optical straightedge: it can illuminate an accurately straight line on a flat surface such as the edge of a plank or shelf.

It is possible to do all compass and straightedge constructions without the straightedge. That is, it is possible, using only a compass
Compass (drafting)

A compass or, more properly, pair of compasses is a technical drawing instrument that can be used for inscribing circles or Arc s. They can also be used as a tool to measure distances, in particular on maps....
, to find the intersection of two lines given two points on each, and to find the tangent points to circles. It is not, however, possible to do all constructions using only a straightedge. It is possible to do them with straightedge alone given one circle and its center.

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