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n. A planar cubic curve that is symmetric about the y-axis and that approaches the x-axis as an asymptote. Its equation is x2y = 4a2(2a - y), where a is a constant. [WITCH (translation of Italian avversiera, versiera, confused with versiera, curve, turning, from New Latin versōria, from Latin versus, turned, reversed, past participle of vertere, to turn; see VERSE1) + Maria Gaetana AGNESI.]  (click for a larger image) witch of AgnesiA segment drawn from the origin to A intersects a circle of radius a at B. The witch of Agnesi is the curve formed by P as A moves along the line C. |
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