mathematics, denotes a construction of some problem, by the assistance of instruments, as the duplication of the cube and quadrature of the circle, in contradiction to that which is done in an accurate and geometrical manner.

Mechanical Curve, is a curve, according to Descartes, which cannot be defined by any algebraic equation; and so stands contradistinguished from algebraic or geometrical curves.

Leibnitz and others call these mechanical curves transcendental, and differ from Descartes, in excluding them out of geometry. Leibnitz found a new kind of transcendental equations, whereby these curves are defined: but they do not continue constantly the same in all points of the curve, as algebraic ones do. See the article Transcendental.

Mechanical Solution of a problem is either when the thing is done by repeated trials, or when lines used in