circle by 1/3

[busterb]

Can you divide a circle into 3 parts with a compass. I must be brain dead. I have a little chore that needs done, & I'm blank. bb

[hypnotizeminds]

Of course.

Although, I'm not sure how to answer your question correctly. See if this helps...

A circle is 360 degrees. A third of that is 120 degrees. If you were to start facing North and turn clockwise (to your right) 120 degrees, you would be facing E-SE (not quite to the SE diagonal, but closer to that than directly East because facing directly East would be 90 degrees, SE is 135 degrees, and South is 180 degrees).

Did that help at all? :D

[busterb]

Tnxs. If I had a compass, I'd be home free. Anyway R times 3.14 what ever.divide by 3 gives me an answer. My cheap calculator won't let me set the decimal point so I have to guess at that. But I have to try & wrap a tape, string or what ever around to get what I need.
Once I was able to work & was a good pipefitter.For ever that's worth. bb

[hypnotizeminds]

Hm. Yeah, I don't really understand what you are trying to do. :D

[busterb]

Not sure myself, but if it works will post detail. Tnxs bb

[dahli]

Anyway R times 3.14 what ever.divide by 3 gives me an answer

The answer that this gives you is 1/6 of the circumference of the circle (unless you are referring to R as the diameter instead of radius)

[rockboy]

The answer that this gives you is 1/6 of the circumference of the circle (unless you are referring to R as the diameter instead of radius)
If you get 1/6 and you're looking for 1/3, then double your answer. ;)

The original question was...Can you divide a circle into 3 parts with a compass. I must be brain dead. I have a little chore that needs done, & I'm blank. bbNope. You can use a calculator and measure it but can't use a compass to divide it.

[uripyores]

Busterb, Do you mean compass or compasses with the point and pencil on the end that's used in geometry?

[hypnotizeminds]

Busterb, Do you mean compass or compasses with the point and pencil on the end that's used in geometry?
Isn't that a protractor? :)

The way I had interpretted busterb's question was that he wanted to take all the directions (N, E, S, W) and divide them into 3 divisions of directions, instead of four. Not sure why anyone would need to do this, but since he mentioned a compass, that is the only conclusion that I could come up with.

[PurestLight]

Isn't that a protractor? :)

A protractor is one of those little half-circle plastic things that you measure angles with in geometry I think.....did some maths homework with one of the kids recently.....BTW, this question is the only one from this thread that I feel (almost) confident in replying to :laugh:

[rockboy]

;)

http://rockboy.cybertechhelp.com/images/geomdesign.gif

When I don't have a calculator or compass handy a piece of string, duct tape, a tape measure, a pencil, and a good eye works for me.
:rotflmao:

[busterb]

Tnxs PL. Your right. What I did was take round rod & bend one to 9.5 " OD, one more to 7.5. BTW someone I was speaking of D=2R, sorry. Anyway this is a deal to hold a funnel so you can pour grease back into the gal. jug after straining, when you have no help. NBD or maybe NSBFD. :-)

[uripyores]

wot???? :dizzy:

[uripyores]

Can you divide a circle into 3 parts with a compass. I must be brain dead. I have a little chore that needs done, & I'm blank. bb If you check out this site they may be able to help answer your problem;- AoPS Math Forum::View topic-Construction problem ;)

[hypnotizeminds]

If you check out this site they may be able to help answer your problem;- AoPS Math Forum::View topic-Construction problem ;)
Might want to provide a link, uripyores. :)

[zipulrich]

AoPS Math Forum link (http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/index.php).

[uripyores]

Might want to provide a link, uripyores. :)Yeah, I tried to but some of the keyboard buttons are not working properly on me lappy so I gave up. :wave:[Feel free to do it for me, if'n you want to.]:wave:

[hypnotizeminds]

Good work, Zip. :thumbsup:

[uripyores]

AoPS Math Forum link (http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/index.php). Bloody hell, I knew you were quick on CTH ..??? that was like lightning!! :eek: