How to Divide a Line Into Equal Parts Without Measuring

This is a trick I read about when trying to get through a woodworking project. I needed to divide a piece of wood into 5 equal sections, and the workpiece divided into a complex fraction. I struggled to work out the math and measurements in my head, and then with a calculator, but every time I marked up the board I was a little bit off.

But then I read about this trick, which allows one to divide any line (or straight object) into equal parts, or evenly spaced sections without directly measuring the line. It uses some basic principles of geometry - but don't worry, no complex math required.

(By the way, please forgive any shop noise and my "umms" this is my first video instructable :^P). If you have any other ideas or suggestions, please share them below in the comments.

The steps

1. Choose the work-piece that you want to divide
2. Choose how many sections you want to make
3. Draw a diagonal line above the line being divided. The line should be divisible by number of sections desired
4. Mark out equal points along the diagonal line
5. Use a square / 90 degree angle to draw lines from the points on the diagonal line down to the original work-piece
6. Done! Your line should now be cut into equal sections

I've used this at least two different ways in my woodworking

1. To cut workpieces into equal parts, I just cut down the center of the line
2. To space joints on a workpiece. For example, if I want to make 1/4 inch dado grooves on a workpiece, I draw more lines 1/8 inch to the right and left of my original line, creating a 1/4" mark for my cuts to follow.