compass
divider
Quick Summary
A divider is a drafting instrument with two sharp, adjustable legs hinged together. It's used for accurately transferring distances from a scale, marking lines on surfaces, or dividing a given distance. While the terms "compass" and "divider" are often used interchangeably, a divider technically has two sharp points. A compass, conversely, has one sharp point and one pencil or pen point, making it suitable for drawing circles and arcs. Both instruments, along with calipers, have a history dating back to the Greeks and Romans.12
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