This Demonstration gives Nicomedes's (c. 180 BC) mechanism for constructing a conchoid. The mechanism consists of three rulers. Two are perpendicular; the horizontal one has a slot and the vertical one has a fixed peg at . The third ruler, , has a fixed peg at that slides along and a slot that lets it slide along .
You can vary the distance between the points and B and the length .
![[Snapshot]](HTMLImages/index.en/thumbnail_1.gif)
![[Snapshot]](HTMLImages/index.en/thumbnail_2.gif)
![[Snapshot]](HTMLImages/index.en/thumbnail_3.gif)
Embed Interactive Demonstration 
Browse all topics
