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The DeItoid Curve

By Edward Sexton
College oI the Redwoods
Calculus 50C, Spring 1999
Description
The deltoid (also known as tricuspid, or Steiner`s hypocycloid) is a member oI the
Iamily oI curves called Hypocycloids. A hypocycloid is a curve produced when a Iixed point
on a small circle is traced while the small circle rolls within a larger circle, and the deltoid
curve is a three-cusped hypocycloid. The Deltoid curve is produced when the ratio oI the
radii oI the circles is either 3/1 or 3/2 (the latter is called a double generation). Figure 2
shows the coordination oI both methods. II this ratio is rational, the curve joins itselI at the
point oI its origin. and the radius oI the small circle is equal to the number oI cusps that the
curve has. II the ratio is irrational, the curve closes and Iills the interior oI the circle.
History of DeItoid
The deltoid was named Ior its resemblance to the Greek letter (delta). Although not
having a single discoverer due to its relationship with the cycloid, Euler lays Iirst claim to
the deltoid in connection with an optical problem in 1745. Later, Steiner investigated the
deltoid curve in 1856, adding his own contributions to it; it is now sometimes reIerred to as
Steiner`s Hypocycloid.
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S Parametric Equations: (where a is the radius oI the rolling circle)
1
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[ D2cos2 Dcos22
\ D2sin2 " Dsin22
0 t 2 t 2=
S Cartesian Equation:
[
2
\
2

2
" 8[[
2
" 3\
2
18[
2
\
2
" 27 0
S Length:
/ 16D
S Area:
$ 2=D
2
S Domain:
"
3
2
D t [ t 3D
S Range:
"
3 3
2
t \ t
3 3
2
Figure 2: Deltoid Generated Illustration
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Figure 3: Hypotrochoid Deltoid
Parametrization of DeItoid Equation
A wheel oI radius &' rolls counter-clockwise along the circumIerence oI the larger
circle. The radius oI the Iixed circle is either three or two-thirds as long as the wheel`s
radius. To Iind the parametric equations Ior the path (called the deltoid) traced by the point
), I need to Iind )[, \.
F
B
D
A
C
E
Figure 4.
Parametrization
Using Figure 4, we can make the Iollowing observations.
1. Make the radius &' oI the wheel be
1
3
oI the radius oI the larger circle.
2. The length oI $' will be 3 times as long as &' (written 3&').
3. The line $' has length 2&'.
4. The arc length %& will be 3&'W, and the arc length oI )& is 3&'W.
5. ThereIore, the coordinates oI point ' is
2DcosW, 2DsinW.
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6. The angle between &' and '( is W.
7. Arc length oI %& divided by the length &' produces the angle between $' and ');
3DW
D
3W
-1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
Figure 5: Matlab Generated Deltoid
8. The angle 3W subtracted Irom the angle W gives the angle between '( and ').
9. Angle )'(: 3W " W 2W.
10. Length oI '(: &'cos2W.
11. Length oI (): &'sin2W.
12. Combining I get
[ 2&'cosW " &'cos2W
\ 2&'sinW " &'sin2W.
13. &' D, and W 2
14. Replacing variables I get,
[ 2Dcos2 " Dcos22
\ 2Dsin2 " Dsin22.
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Figure 6: Deltoid constructed by Oscillating Circles
Now we get to the Iun part oI this project where we get to see a deltoid constructed Irom
a geometer`s sketchpad drawing. You can access the Iile Delta71gsp at
http=\\online1redwoods1cc1ca1us\instruct\darnold\
CalcProj\Sp<<\Ed\Delta71gsp
Animate
Figure 7: Goemeter`s Sketchpad Animation
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S Lawrence, Dennis. A Catalog oI Special Plane Curves. Dover Publications, pp. 131-137, 1972
S Lee, X. Deltoid. http://www.best.com/~xah/SpecialPlaneCurvesdir/Deltoiddir/deltoid.html.
S Lockwood, E.H. A Book oI Curves. Cambridge University press, pp. 72-79, 141-147, 1961
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S Yates, Robert. Curves And Their Properties. pp71-74, 1952

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