Hypocycloid
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In geometry, a hypocycloid is a special plane curve generated by the trace of a fixed point on a small circle that rolls within a larger circle. It is comparable to the cycloid but instead of the circle rolling along a line, it rolls within a circle.
If the smaller circle has radius r, and the larger circle has radius R = kr, then the parametric equations for the curve can be given by
If k is an integer, then the curve is closed, and has k cusps (i.e., sharp corners, where the curve is not differentiable).
If k is a rational number, say k = p/q expressed in simplest terms, then the curve has p cusps.
If k is an irrational number, then the curve never closes, and fills the space within the larger circle except for a disk of radius R − r in the center of the larger circle.
 k=3 - a deltoid |
 k=4 - an astroid |
 k=5 |
 k=6 |
 k=2.1 |
 k=3.8 |
 k=5.5 |
 k=7.2 |
The hypocycloid is a special kind of hypotrochoid, which are a particular kind of roulette.
A hypocycloid with three cusps is known as a deltoid.
A hypocycloid curve with four cusps is known as an astroid.
[edit] Derived curves
The evolute of a hypocycloid is an enlarged version of the hypocycloid itself, while the involute of a hypocycloid is a reduced copy of itself. [1]
The pedal of a hypocycloid with pole at the center of the hypocycloid is a rose curve.
The isoptic of a hypocycloid is a hypocycloid.
[edit] Hypocycloids in popular culture
Curves similar to hypocyloids can be drawn with the Spirograph toy. Specifically, the Spirograph can draw hypotrochoids and epitrochoids.
The Pittsburgh Steelers' logo includes three astroids (hypocycloids of four cusps). In his weekly NFL.com column Tuesday Morning Quarterback, Gregg Easterbrook often refers to the Steelers as the Hypocycloids.
