# Divide arc in pieces of equal length

I have an object described by the parametric equations $x = x\left(t\right)$ and $y = y\left(t\right)$. I want to divide the arc into $n$ pieces of equal length.

I know that the arc-length is defined by $$l =\int_{0}^{2\pi}\sqrt{\left(x\left(t\right)'\right)^2+\left(y\left(t\right)'\right)^2 }\cdot dt.$$ I know that I need, for the $i$-th sub-arc, to solve the equation $$l_i=\frac{i}{n}l \overset{!}{=}\int_{0}^{t_i}\sqrt{\left(x\left(t\right)'\right)^2+\left(y\left(t\right)'\right)^2 }\cdot dt$$ for $t_i$.

However, the integral is of a form that, in general, can only be evaluated numerically.

Is there any way to solve for $t_i$ without knowing the analytic result of the integration?

• It would strongly help your cause to post what your $x(t)$ and $y(t)$ are Mar 28, 2016 at 17:53
• They are both continuous and differentiable. Mar 28, 2016 at 18:27

You can't solve for it analytically, but you are well set up for numerical root finding. Given a $t$ you can compute the arc length up to $t$ and the derivative of the arc length with respect to $t$ is $\sqrt{\left(x\left(t\right)'\right)^2+\left(y\left(t\right)'\right)^2 }$ which you already know how to calculate. This is perfect for Newton's method.
• Absent better info, I would start with $\frac {2\pi}n$ Mar 28, 2016 at 21:40