Conchoid (mathematics)


A conchoid is a curve derived from a fixed point O, another curve, and a length d. It was invented by the ancient Greek mathematician Nicomedes.

Description

For every line through O that intersects the given curve at A the two points on the line which are d from A are on the conchoid. The conchoid is, therefore, the cissoid of the given curve and a circle of radius d and center O. They are called conchoids because the shape of their outer branches resembles conch shells.
The simplest expression uses polar coordinates with O at the origin. If
expresses the given curve, then
expresses the conchoid.
If the curve is a line, then the conchoid is the conchoid of Nicomedes.
For instance, if the curve is the line, then the line's polar form is
and therefore the conchoid can be expressed parametrically as
A limaçon is a conchoid with a circle as the given curve.
The so-called conchoid of de Sluze and conchoid of Dürer are not actually conchoids. The former is a strict cissoid and the latter a construction more general yet.