What Is a Derivative?

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Overview

In Chapter 1, "Polynomial Curves," I talked about polynomial functions and the curves you can draw with them. It might have been clear from that discussion that polynomial functions are not very flexible for drawing curves of arbitrary shapes . In this chapter, I will present an alternative representation for curves (parametric equations) that will serve as a foundation for the remaining chapters. I will show you how parametric equations are used to draw Bezier curves. Along the way, I will cover the following concepts.

• What is a parametric equation?

• Bezier curves defined with parametric equations

• Bezier curve basis functions and their derivatives

• Limitations of Bezier curves

• Joining Bezier curves

• Drawing Bezier curves