ClipArt ETC
An illustration showing the construction used to divide an angle into two equal parts. "With C as a center, draw the dotted arc DE; with D and E as centers, draw the cross arcs at F with equal radii. Join CF, which divides the angle into the required parts."

Construction Of A Divided Angle

An illustration showing the construction used to divide an angle into two equal parts. "With C as a…

An illustration showing the construction used to divide an angle into two equal parts when the lines do not extend to a meeting point. "Draw the lined CD and CE parallel, and at equal distances from the lines AB and FG. With C as a center, draw the dotted arc BG; and with B and G as centers, draw the cross arcs H. Join CD, which divides the angle into the required equal parts."

Construction Of A Divided Angle

An illustration showing the construction used to divide an angle into two equal parts when the lines…

An illustration showing how to construct the center and radius of a circle that will tangent a given circle and line. "Through the given point C, draw the line EF at right angles to AB; set off from C the radius r of the given circle. Join G and F. With G and F as centers draw the arc crosses m and n. Join mn, and where it crosses the line EF is the center of the required circle."

Construction Of A Center And Radius Of A Circle That Will Tangent A Given Circle And Line

An illustration showing how to construct the center and radius of a circle that will tangent a given…

An illustration showing how to construct the center and radius of a circle that will tangent a given circle and line. "From C, erect the perpendicular CG; set off the given radius r from C to H. With H as a center and r as radius, draw the cross arcs on the circle. Through the cross arcs draw the line IG; then G is the center of the circle arc FIC, which tangents the line at C and the circle at F."

Construction Of A Center And Radius Of A Circle That Will Tangent A Given Circle And Line

An illustration showing how to construct the center and radius of a circle that will tangent a given…

An illustration showing how to construct the center and radius of a circle that will tangent a given circle. "Through the given point C, draw the tangent GF; bisect the angle FGE; then o is the center of the required circle that will tangent AB at C, and the line DE."

Construction Of A Center And Radius Of A Circle That Will Tangent A Given Circle

An illustration showing how to construct the center and radius of a circle that will tangent a given…

An illustration showing how to construct a center and radius of a circle that will tangent the three sides of a triangle. "Bisect two of the angles in the triangle, and the crossing C is the center of the required circle."

Construction Of The Center And Radius Of A Circle Tangent To Triangle Sides

An illustration showing how to construct a center and radius of a circle that will tangent the three…

An illustration showing how to construct a circle arc without recourse to its center, but its chord AB and height h being given. "With the chord as radius, and A and B as centers, draw the dotted circle arcs AC and BD. Through the point O draw the lines AOo and BOo. Make the arcs Co=Ao and Do=Bo. Divide these arcs into any desired number of equal parts, and number them as shown on the illustration. Join A and B with the divisions, and the crossings of equal numbers are points in the circle arc."

Construction Of A Circle Arc

An illustration showing how to construct a circle arc without recourse to its center, but its chord…

An illustration showing how to construct a circle tangent to a given line and given circle. "Add the given radius r to the radius R of the circle, and draw the arc cd. Draw the line ce parallel with and at a distance r from the line AB. Then the crossing c is the center of the required circle that will tangent the given line and circle."

Construction Of A Circle Tangent To A Line And A Circle

An illustration showing how to construct a circle tangent to a given line and given circle. "Add the…

An illustration showing how to construct a circle that tangents two given lines and goes through a given point c on the line FC, which bisects the angle of the lines. "Through C draw AB at right angles to CF; bisect the angles DAB and EBA, and the crossing on CF is the center of the required circle."

Construction Of A Circle That Tangents 2 Given Lines And Goes Through A Given Point

An illustration showing how to construct a circle that tangents two given lines and goes through a given…

An illustration showing how to construct a circle that tangents two given lines inclined to one another with the one tangenting point being given. "Draw the center line GF. From E, draw EF at right angles to AB; then F is the center of the circle required.

Construction Of A Circle That Tangents 2 Given Lines

An illustration showing how to construct a circle that tangents two given lines inclined to one another…

An illustration showing how to find the center of a circle which will pass through three given points A, B, and C. "With B as a center, draw the arc DEFG; and with the same radius and A as a center, draw the cross arcs D and F; also with C as a center, draw the cross arcs E and G. Join D and F, and also E and G, and the crossing o is the required center of the circle."

Find The Center Of A Circle Through 3 Points

An illustration showing how to find the center of a circle which will pass through three given points…

An illustration showing how to construct a cycloid. "The circumference C=3.14D. Divide the rolling circle and base line C into a number of equal parts, draw through the division point the ordinates and abscissas, make aa' = 1d, bb' = 2'e, cc = 3f, then ab' and c' are points in the cycloid. In the Epicycloid and Hypocycloid the abscissas are circles and the ordinates are radii to one common center."

Construction Of A Cycloid

An illustration showing how to construct a cycloid. "The circumference C=3.14D. Divide the rolling circle…

An illustration showing how to construct a cyma, or two circle arcs that will tangent themselves, and two parallel lines at given points A and B. "Join A and B; divide AB into four equal parts and erect perpendiculars. Draw Am at right angles from A, and Bn at right angles from B; then m and n are the centers of the circle arcs of the required cyma."

Construction Of A Cyma

An illustration showing how to construct a cyma, or two circle arcs that will tangent themselves, and…

An illustration showing how to construct an ellipse parallel to two parallel lines A and B. "Draw a semicircle on AB, draw ordinates in the circle at right angle to AB, the corresponding and equal ordinates for the ellipse to be drawn parallel to the lines, and thus the elliptic curve is obtained as shown by the figure."

Construction Of An Ellipse Tangent To Two Parallel Lines

An illustration showing how to construct an ellipse parallel to two parallel lines A and B. "Draw a…

An illustration showing how to construct an ellipse. "With a as a center, draw two concentric circles with diameters equal to the long and short axes of the desired ellipse. Draw from o any number of radii, A, B, etc. Draw a line Bb' parallel to n and bb' parallel to m, then b is a point in the desired ellipse.

Construction Of An Ellipse

An illustration showing how to construct an ellipse. "With a as a center, draw two concentric circles…

An illustration showing how to construct an ellipse using a string. "Having given the two axes, set off from c half the great axis at a and b, which are the two focuses of the ellipse. Take an endless string as long as the three sides in the triangle abc, fix two pins or nails in the focuses, one in a and one in b, lay the string around a and b, stretch it with a pencil d, which then will describe the desired ellipse."

Construction Of An Ellipse

An illustration showing how to construct an ellipse using a string. "Having given the two axes, set…

An illustration showing how to construct an ellipse using circle arcs. "Divide the long axis into three equal parts, draw the two circles, and where they intersect one another are the centers for the tangent arcs of the ellipses as shown by the figure."

Construction Of An Ellipse

An illustration showing how to construct an ellipse using circle arcs. "Divide the long axis into three…

An illustration showing how to construct an ellipse using circle arcs. "Given the two axes, set off the short axis from A to b, divide b into three equal parts, set off two of these parts from o towards c and c which are the centers for the ends of the ellipse. Make equilateral triangles on cc, when ee will be the centers for the sides of the ellipse. If the long axis is more than twice the short one, this construction will not make a good ellipse."

Construction Of An Ellipse

An illustration showing how to construct an ellipse using circle arcs. "Given the two axes, set off…

An illustration showing how to construct an ellipse. Given the two axes, set off half the long axis from c to ff, which will be the two focuses in the ellipse. Divide the long axis into any number of parts, say a to be a division point. Take Aa as radius and f as center and describe a circle arc about b, take aB as radius and f as center describe another circle arc about b, then the intersection b is a point in the ellipse, and so the whole ellipse can be constructed."

Construction Of An Ellipse

An illustration showing how to construct an ellipse. Given the two axes, set off half the long axis…

Illustration used to show how to construct an angle equal to a given angle when given a vertex and a given side.

Construction Of An Equal Angle

Illustration used to show how to construct an angle equal to a given angle when given a vertex and a…

An illustration showing the construction used to erect an equal angle. "With D as a center, draw the dotted arc CE: and with the same radius and B as a center, draw the arc GF; then make GF equal to CE; then join BF, which will form the required angle, FBG=CDE."

Construction Of An Equal Angle

An illustration showing the construction used to erect an equal angle. "With D as a center, draw the…

An illustration showing how to construct an equilateral triangle inscribed in a circle. "With the radius of the circle and center C draw the arc DFE; with the same radius, and D and E as centers, set off the points A and B. Join A and B, B and C, C and A, which will be the required triangle."

Construction Of An Equilateral Triangle Inscribed In A Circle

An illustration showing how to construct an equilateral triangle inscribed in a circle. "With the radius…

Illustration used to show how to construct an equilateral triangle, with a given line as a side.

Construction Of Equilateral Triangle

Illustration used to show how to construct an equilateral triangle, with a given line as a side.

An illustration showing how to construct an evolute of a circle. "Given the pitch p, the angle v, and radius r. Divide the angle v into a number of equal parts, draw the radii and tangents for each part, divide the pitch p into an equal number of equal parts, then the first tangent will be one part, second two parts, third three parts, etc., and so the Evolute is traced."

Construction Of An Evolute Of A Circle

An illustration showing how to construct an evolute of a circle. "Given the pitch p, the angle v, and…

An illustration showing how to construct a heptagon, or septagon. "The appotem a in a hexagon is the length of the side of the heptagon. Set off AB equal to the radius of the circle; draw a from the center C at right angles to AB; then a is the required side of the heptagon."

Construction Of A Heptagon

An illustration showing how to construct a heptagon, or septagon. "The appotem a in a hexagon is the…

An illustration showing how to construct a hexagon in a given circle. "The radius of the circle is equal to the side of the hexagon."

Construction Of A Hexagon In A Circle

An illustration showing how to construct a hexagon in a given circle. "The radius of the circle is equal…

An illustration showing how to construct a hyperbola by plotting. "Having given the transverse axis BC, vertexes Aa, and foci ff'. Set off any desired number of parts on the axis below the focus, and number them 1,2,3,4,,5,etc. Take the distance a1 as radius, and, with f' as center, strike the cross 1 with f'1=a1. With the distance A1, and the focus f as center, strike the cross 1 with the radius F1=A1, and the cross 1 is a point in the hyperbola."

Construction Of A Hyperbola

An illustration showing how to construct a hyperbola by plotting. "Having given the transverse axis…

An illustration showing how to construct a hyperbola by a pencil and a string. "Having given the transverse axis BC, foci f' and f, and the vertexes A and a. Take a rule and fix it to a string at e; fix the other end of the string at the focus f. The length of the string should be such that when the rule R is in the position f'C, the loop of the string should reach to A; then move the rule on the focus f', and a pencil at P, stretching string, will trace the hyperbola."

Construction Of A Hyperbola

An illustration showing how to construct a hyperbola by a pencil and a string. "Having given the transverse…

An illustration showing how to construct an isometric ellipse by compass and six circle arcs. "Divide OA and OB each into three equal parts; draw the quadrant AC. From C, draw the line Cc through the point 1. Through the points 2 draw de at an angle of 45° with the major axis. Then 2 is the center for the ends of the ellipse; e is the center for the arc dc; and C is the center for the arc cf."

Construction Of An Isometric Ellipse

An illustration showing how to construct an isometric ellipse by compass and six circle arcs. "Divide…

An illustration showing how to use isometric perspective. "This kind of perspective admits of scale measurements the same as any ordinary drawing, and gives a clear representation of the object. It is easily learned. All horizontal rectangular lines are drawn at an angle of 30°. All circles are ellipses of proportion, as shown."

Construction Using Isometric Perspective

An illustration showing how to use isometric perspective. "This kind of perspective admits of scale…

An illustration showing the construction used to divide a line AB into two equal parts; and to erect a perpendicular through the middle. "With the end A and B as centers, draw the dotted circle arcs with a radius greater than half the line. Through the crossings of the arcs draw the perpendicular CD, which divides the line into two equal parts."

Construction Of A Line Divided In Equal Parts

An illustration showing the construction used to divide a line AB into two equal parts; and to erect…

An illustration showing how to construct a regular octagon from a square by cutting off the corners of the square. "With the corners as centers, draw circle arcs through the center of the square to the side, which determine the cut-off."

Construction Of An Octagon From a Square

An illustration showing how to construct a regular octagon from a square by cutting off the corners…

An illustration showing how to construct an octagon on a given line. "Prolong AB to C. With B as center and AB as radius, draw the circle AFDEC; from B, draw BI at right angles to AB; divide the angles ABC and DBC each into two equal parts; then BD is one side of the octagon. With A and E as centers, draw the arcs HKE and AKI, which determine the points H and I, and thus complete the octagon as shown in the illustration."

Construction Of An Octagon

An illustration showing how to construct an octagon on a given line. "Prolong AB to C. With B as center…

An illustration showing how to construct a parabola by plotting. "Having given the axis, vertex, and focus of the parabola. Divide the transverse axis into any desired number of parts 1, 2, 3, etc., and draw ordinates through the divisions; take the distance A1, and set it off on the 1st ordinate from the focus f to a, so that A1 = fa. Repeat the same operation with the other ordinates - that is, set off the distance A5 from f to e, so that A5 = fe; and so the parabola is constructed."

Construction Of A Parabola

An illustration showing how to construct a parabola by plotting. "Having given the axis, vertex, and…

An illustration showing how to construct a parabola using a pencil and a string. "Having given the two axes, vertex, and focus of the parabola. Take a square cde, and fix to it a string at c; fix the other end of the string at the focus f. The length of the sting should be such that when the square is in the position of the axis Af, the string should reach to the vertex A. Move the square along BB, and the pencil P will describe the parabola."

Construction Of A Parabola

An illustration showing how to construct a parabola using a pencil and a string. "Having given the two…

An illustration showing how to construct a parabola. "Given the vertex A, axis x, and a point P. Draw AB at right angle to x, and BP parallel to x, divide AB and BP into an equal number of equal parts. From the vertex A draw lines to the divisions on BP, from the divisions on AB draw the ordinates parallel to x, the corresponding intersections are points in the parabola."

Construction Of A Parabola

An illustration showing how to construct a parabola. "Given the vertex A, axis x, and a point P. Draw…

An illustration showing how to construct a parabola. "Given the axis of ordinate B, and vertex A. Take A as a center and describe a semicircle from B which gives the focus of the parabola at f. Draw any ordinate y at right angle to the abscissa Ax, take a as radius and the focus f as a center, then intersect the ordinate y, by a circle-arc in P which will be a point in the parabola. In the same manner the whole Parabola is constructed."

Construction Of A Parabola

An illustration showing how to construct a parabola. "Given the axis of ordinate B, and vertex A. Take…

An illustration showing the construction used to erect a parallel line. "With C as a center, draw the dotted arc ED, with E as a center, draw through C the dotted arc F.C. With the radius FC and E as a center, draw the cross arc at D. Join C with the cross at D, which will be the required parallel line.

Construction Of A Parallel

An illustration showing the construction used to erect a parallel line. "With C as a center, draw the…

An illustration showing the construction used to erect a parallelogram given two sides and an angle. "Draw the base line DE, and make the angle FDE = C; lines DE = B and DF = A; complete the parallelogram by cross arcs at G, and the problem is thus solved."

Construction Of A Parallelogram

An illustration showing the construction used to erect a parallelogram given two sides and an angle.…

An illustration showing how to construct a pentagon inscribed in a circle. "Draw the diameter AB, and from the center C erect the perpendicular CD. Bisect the radius AC at E; with E as center, and DE as radius, draw the arc DE, and the straight line DF is the length of the side of the pentagon."

Construction Of A Pentagon Inscribed In A Circle

An illustration showing how to construct a pentagon inscribed in a circle. "Draw the diameter AB, and…

An illustration showing how to construct a pentagon on a given line. "From B erect BC perpendicular to and half the length of AB; join A and C prolonged to D; with C as center and CB as radius, draw the arc BD; then the chord BB is the radius of the circle circumscribing the pentagon. With A and B as centers, and BD as radius, draw the cross O in the center."

Construction Of A Pentagon On A Line

An illustration showing how to construct a pentagon on a given line. "From B erect BC perpendicular…

An illustration showing how to construct a pentagon on a given line without resort to its center. "From B erect Bo perpendicular to and equal to AB; with C as center and Co as radius, draw the arc Do, then AD is the diagonal of the pentagon. With AD as radius and A as center, draw the arc DE; and with E as center and AB as radius, finish the cross E, and thus complete the pentagon."

Construction Of A Pentagon On A Line

An illustration showing how to construct a pentagon on a given line without resort to its center. "From…

An illustration showing the construction used to erect a perpendicular. "With C as a center, draw the dotted circle arcs at A and B equal distances from C. With A and B as centers, draw the dotted circle arcs at D. From the crossing D draw the required perpendicular DC."

Construction Of A Perpendicular

An illustration showing the construction used to erect a perpendicular. "With C as a center, draw the…

An illustration showing the construction used to erect a perpendicular from a point to a line. "With C as a center, draw the dotted circle arc so that it cuts the line at A and B. With A and B as centers, draw the dotted cross arcs at D with equal radii. Draw the required perpendicular through C and crossing D."

Construction Of A Perpendicular

An illustration showing the construction used to erect a perpendicular from a point to a line. "With…

An illustration showing the construction used to erect a perpendicular at the end of a line. "With the point D as a center at a distance from the line, and with AD as radius, draw the dotted circle arc so that it cuts the line at E through E and D, draw the diameter EC: then join C and A, which will be the required perpendicular."

Construction Of A Perpendicular

An illustration showing the construction used to erect a perpendicular at the end of a line. "With the…

An illustration showing the construction used to divide the line AB in the same proportion of parts as AC. "Join C and B, and through the given divisions 1, 2, and 3 draw lines parallel with CB, which solves the problem."

Divide A Line Proportionately

An illustration showing the construction used to divide the line AB in the same proportion of parts…

An illustration showing how to construct a regular polygon on a given line without resort to its center. "Extend AB to C and, with B as center, draw the half circle ADB. Divide the half circle into as many parts as the number of sides in the polygon, and complete the construction as shown on the illustration."

Construction Of A Regular Polygon On A Line

An illustration showing how to construct a regular polygon on a given line without resort to its center.…

An illustration showing how to construct a screw helix.

Construction Of A Screw Helix

An illustration showing how to construct a screw helix.

Five points are given, of which not three are in a line, a curve of second order may be drawn through all of them.

Second Order Curve

Five points are given, of which not three are in a line, a curve of second order may be drawn through…

An illustration showing how to construct Shield's anti-friction curve. "R represents the radius of the shaft, and C1, 2, 3, et., is the center line of the shaft. From o, set off the small distance oa; and set off a1 - R. Set off the same small distance from a to b, and make b2 = R. Continue in the same way with the other points, and the anti-friction curve is thus constructed.

Construction Of Shield's Anti-friction Curve

An illustration showing how to construct Shield's anti-friction curve. "R represents the radius of the…

An illustration showing how to construct a spiral with compasses and four centers. "Given the pitch of the spiral, construct a square about the center, with the four sides together equal to the pitch. Prolong the sides in one direction as shown by the figure, the corners are the centers for each arc of the external angles."

Construction Of A Spiral

An illustration showing how to construct a spiral with compasses and four centers. "Given the pitch…

An illustration showing how to construct an arithmetic spiral. "Given the pitch p and angle v, divide them into an equal number of equal parts, say 6; make 01 = 01, 02 = 02, 03 = 03, 04 = 04, 05 = 05, and 06 = the pitch p; then join the points 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, which will form the spiral required."

Construction Of An Arithmetic Spiral

An illustration showing how to construct an arithmetic spiral. "Given the pitch p and angle v, divide…

An illustration showing how to construct a square circumscribed about a circle. "Draw the diameters AB and CD at right angles to one another; with the radius of the circle, and A, B, C, and D as centers, draw the four dotted half circles which cross one another in the corners of the square, and thus complete the problem."

Construction Of A Square Circumscribed About A Circle

An illustration showing how to construct a square circumscribed about a circle. "Draw the diameters…

An illustration showing how to construct a square upon a given line. "With AB as radius and A and B as centers, draw the circle arcs AED and BEC. Divide the arc BE in two equal parts at F, and with EF as radius and E as center, draw the circle CFD. Join A and CB and D, C and D, which completes the required square."

Square Constructed Upon A Given Line

An illustration showing how to construct a square upon a given line. "With AB as radius and A and B…

An illustration showing how to construct a square inscribed in a circle. "Draw the diameter AB, and through the center erect the perpendicular CD, and complete the square as shown in the illustration."

Construction Of A Square Inscribed In A Circle

An illustration showing how to construct a square inscribed in a circle. "Draw the diameter AB, and…

An illustration showing how to construct a talon, or two circle arcs that will tangent themselves, and meet two parallel lines at right angles in the given points A and B. "Join A and B; divide AB into four equal parts erect perpendiculars; then m and n are the centers of the circle arcs of the required talon."

Construction Of A Talon

An illustration showing how to construct a talon, or two circle arcs that will tangent themselves, and…

An illustration showing how to construct a tangent between 2 given circles. "Join the centers C and c of the given circles; draw the dotted circle arcs, and join the crossing m, n, which line cuts the center line at a. With aC as diameter, draw the half circle afC; and with ac as a diameter, draw the half circle cea; then the crossings e and f are the tangenting points of the circles."

Construction Of Tangent Between 2 Circles

An illustration showing how to construct a tangent between 2 given circles. "Join the centers C and…

An illustration showing how to construct a tangent to 2 given circles of different diameters. "Join the centers C and c of the given circles, and extend the line to D; draw the radii AC and ac parallel with one another. Join Aa, and extend the line to D. On CD as a diameter, draw the half circle CeD; on cD as a diameter, draw the half circle cfD; then the crossings e and f are the tangenting points of the circles."

Construction Of Tangent To 2 Circles

An illustration showing how to construct a tangent to 2 given circles of different diameters. "Join…

An illustration showing how to construct a tangent circle to 2 given circles. "Join centers C and c of the given circles, and extend the line to D; draw the radii AC and ac parallel with one another. Join Aa, and extend the line to D. On CD as a diameter, draw the half circle CeD; on cD as a diameter, draw the half circle cfD; then the crossings e and f are tangenting points of the circles."

Construction Of Circle Tangent To 2 Circles

An illustration showing how to construct a tangent circle to 2 given circles. "Join centers C and c…

An illustration showing how to construct a tangent to a circle through a given point in a circumference. "Through a given point A and center C, draw the line BC. With A as a center, draw the circle arcs B and C; with B and C as centers, draw the cross arcs D and E; then join D and E, which is the required tangent."

Construction Of Tangent To Circle

An illustration showing how to construct a tangent to a circle through a given point in a circumference.…