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Curve Sketching

The document discusses techniques for sketching curves based on their characteristics such as zeros, poles, asymptotes, and special points. An example curve of y = 1−2x/(x+1) is analyzed in detail to demonstrate these techniques. Curves can also be represented parametrically in terms of a parameter t, and an example trajectory curve under gravity is described parametrically and its characteristics analyzed.

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freudianslipjr
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73 views

Curve Sketching

The document discusses techniques for sketching curves based on their characteristics such as zeros, poles, asymptotes, and special points. An example curve of y = 1−2x/(x+1) is analyzed in detail to demonstrate these techniques. Curves can also be represented parametrically in terms of a parameter t, and an example trajectory curve under gravity is described parametrically and its characteristics analyzed.

Uploaded by

freudianslipjr
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Curve sketching Graphics calculators and computer-based graphics packages are very adept at plotting curves, but it remains

useful to be able to sketch curves in order to determine the characterising features. With the main features of a curve determined then appropriate graphical parameters needed for a detailed graphical plot can be specied and the computer plot validated. There is no general method applicable to curve sketching but a number of general techniques are useful, but not necessarily applicable to all types of curves. Curve sketching is a skill to be attained and best learnt from examples. 1 2x ; Illustrative example: y = f (x) = x+1 i) zeros - obtain values of x where y = 0 . i.e. f (x) = 0 ; only root at x = 1 2 ii) poles - obtain values of x where for a rational function (as above) the denominator has zeros (called poles). At poles the curve often has y + or y . i.e. x + 1 = 0, only pole at x = 1. iii) asymptotes - these are straight lines that the curve approaches as either x or y : a) vertical asymptotes - value y at a xed value x = x0 , say; often x0 is a pole. Information of the behaviour of the curve near x = x0 can often be simply obtained by making a local approximation in the form x = x0 + , where is considered vanishingly small (and so 2 , 3 etc are negligibly small). i.e. for pole at x = 1, let x = 1 + then 3 3/ as 0. f (x) = so as 0+ ( tends to zero as a positive quantity) then f (x) +. 0 ( tends to a negative quantity) then f (x) . hence x = 1 is a vertical asymptote and f (x) + as x 1+ and f (x) as x 1 . b) asymptotes as x - to determine the behaviour of f (x) then it is often suitable to rearrange terms into quanitites that become vanishingly small as | x | .
1 2 1 2x x = i.e. f (x) = 1; x+1 1+ x

as x +, f (x) 2 and as x , f (x) 2. in this example y = f (x) = 2 is a horizontal asymptote.

iv) special points - calculate values of f (x) explicitly at selected points to give further insight. Often extensive evaluation is not required; it is practical to choose simple values - e.g. at x = 0. i.e. 0 x 3 1 2 f (x) 7 2
1 2

2 1 0 1
vertical asymptote y axis 4 3 2 1

1 2

x axis

horizontal asymptote 3 4

Sketch of y = f (x) = Parametric Representation of curves

1 2x showing main characteristics. x+1

Sometimes a curve may be expressed in terms of a parametric parameter t, say, often time, in the form x = x(t) , y = y (t).
1 2 gt An example is x = U t , y = V t 2

(cartesian trajectory of a point mass under gravity g ejected at an initial velocity (U, V )) As t increases, from t = 0, a curve y = f (x) is displayed
y axis

t (x (t), y (t) ) initial velocity t=0 t = 2V g x axis

From the trajectory equations: y = 0 when t = 0 or t = 2V /g ; i.e. at t = 0, y = 0 and x = 0; 2V U 2V , y = 0 and x = . t= g g In the above, the parameter t can be eliminated directly to obtain the equation of the trajector curve, x 2 Vx 1 f (x); 2g i.e. t = x/U so y = U U In many instances the parameter t cannot be eliminated and the curve x = x(t), y = y (t) must be obtained implicitely in terms of t.

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