Barbier's theorem states that every convex curve of constant width
has perimeter
Thus every curve of constant width has the same perimeter as a circle
of diameter , even though such a curve need not be a circle.
To see the result, let
denote the distance between the two parallel supporting
lines perpendicular to
direction
.
Cauchy's perimeter formula gives
. For a curve
of constant width,
,
and the stated formula follows immediately.