Let BC be a given segment to be divided into N parts. Draw two parallel lines through B and C and measure N equal segments on each: BB1, B1B2, and so on, on one, and CC1, C1C2, and so on, on the other pointing in different directions. Join the first of the points B with the last of C's and vice versa and join the rest by parallel lines. Those lines will cut BC into N equal segments.