How is a miter joint formed?

How is a miter joint formed?

• A. By welding the members at the corner
• B. By matching two members at the line bisecting the angle
• C. By overlapping at the edge
• D. By butt joining with a plate

Answer: (B)

A miter joint is formed by cutting the ends of two pieces so they meet at a corner with complementary angles. Each end is cut at half the angle of the corner, so when the two pieces come together, the joint line runs along the angle’s bisector. For a typical 90-degree corner, that means each piece is cut at 45 degrees, producing a clean, flush corner.

This distinguishes it from other joints: a butt joint would simply join straight ends, a lap joint overlaps, and a plate would be used with butt joining rather than a diagonal cut. The key idea is matching the two ends at the line that bisects the angle.