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enter image description here How does this instrument work? Here is a video that demonstrates its use.

After reading the wikipedia page, I still have no idea how it works. Any explanations that are easier to comprehend?

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    Originally posted to [skeptics.SE.](http://skeptics.stackexchange.com/q/4627/3677)2011-06-16

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See Robert L. Foote: Geometry of the Prytz Planimeter. See also Mark Levi and Serge Tabachnikov On bicycle tire tracks geometry, hatchet planimeter, Menzin’s conjecture and oscillation of unicycle tracks, and Tom Apostol and M. Mnatsakanian: The method of sweeping tangents.

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    @pic What precisely don't you get? Did you read the nice exposition in section 2 of Foote's paper. If something about this is not clear then I'm sure folks here would be glad to assist you if you ask *specific* questions about such in your question.2011-06-16