Dividing Circle into Equal Parts Without Measurements

Hello everyone!

So. Another tip. These things come as needed and right now it's because my mind wanders as I read about Foucault's governmentality, politics of resentment and popular media in education for one of my MA papers I need to write. My mind is broken. Ha!

Anyway, this tip is about drawing wheel-like things like color wheel or pizza, as long as it has equal segments, without using straight rule or protractor because sometimes, that could be intimidating. This is only recommended if you're not required to draw anything with exact measurements. Of course, the number of segments, you can adjust as needed. However, as you may notice, it's only even-numbered segments.

I actually used this when I was preparing the color wheel worksheets for my young students. So, feel free to use it somewhere else that doesn't require accuracy. For this one, we will divide the paper in twelve segments which is just enough for a color wheel for primary, secondary and tertiary colors.

Step 1: You'll need a round object as pattern, pencil, a pair of scissors, and a slightly thicker paper (not board!). I'm using a drawing paper from my sketchbook.

Step 2: Trace your round object on the paper, then cut.

Step 3: Fold the circle in half. Make sure the edges of each half align with each other.

Step 4: Then fold again to make 4 segments.

Step 5: Divide one of the quarters into three by estimating and folding each segment. It's ok to make wrong folds; this is just your pattern.

Step 6: Draw a circle on another paper by tracing your round object. Start tracing the spokes of your wheel by opening up your pattern; lining the rounded part on one side; and then, tracing the line of the folded side to bisect your circle.

Step 7: Fold in the first segment, and draw a line along its folded edge to make your first segment. Fold under the first and second segments to get to the next one.

Step 8: Continue doing that, move your pattern around as needed, until you're able to finish dividing the half of your circle.

Step 9: Straighten your pattern again into a half-circle. Using its folded edge, extend the lines to the other half of your circle like so.

Step 10: Continue until your twelve segments are complete. Voila!

Now, that's a pie of 12 segments. 

This is how to divide by six.

Step 1: Same as before: trace and cut circle, fold into half-circles, and then fold a bit into quarters just to mark the center like this.

Step 2: Estimate fold the half circle into three like this. Do not crease at once. Tug and pull until each segment is almost the same size.

Step 3: To draw, trace again on paper the way we did above; using the folded edges of the pattern.

I hope I'm able to help.