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Mike Tate Mathematics

Cissoid of Diocles

Cissoid Art Animations

Cissoid Art Animations

Mathematical beauty in motion – Exploring the artistic side of the Cissoid curve

🌀 Spinning Cissoid

Rotating cissoid with particle trail effects

✨ Particle Resonance

Particles following cissoid paths

🌊 Wave Cissoid

Interference patterns forming cissoids

🎭 Kaleidoscopic Cissoid

Symmetrical reflections and patterns

🌿 Organic Cissoid

Natural growth patterns inspired by cissoids

💫 Neon Cissoid

Glowing network of interconnected cissoids

Cissoid of Diocles
The classic cissoid is defined by:
y² = x³ / (2a − x)

A curve formed by tracing the intersection of a moving secant with a fixed circle.
The same curve in polar coordinates:
r = 2a / (1 + cosθ)

This form reveals its cusp structure and angular symmetry.
An equivalent variant sometimes used in optics:
r = a + b secθ

Shows how the curve explodes as the line approaches vertical.
Another beautiful identity:
x³ + y³ = 3axy

A cubic symmetric structure linking two mirrored branches.