Parametric Space Curves
This page describes the plotting in three dimensional space of a curve
defined by the parametric equations x=f(t), y=g(t), z=h(t), where f,g, and
h are functions of the parameter t which ranges over a specified interval.
The basic draw command for this function utilizes either the uncompiled
functions or compiled functions format and uses the
curve command to specify the three
functions for the x, y, and z components of the curve. The general format
for uncompiled functions is:
draw(curve(f(t),g(t),h(t)), t=a..b)
where a..b is the segment defining the interval [a,b] over which the
parameter t ranges. In this case the functions are not compiled until
the draw command is executed. Here is an example:
In the case of compiled functions, the functions are named and compiled
independently. This is useful if you intend to use the functions often,
or if the functions are long and complex. The following lines show
functions whose parameters are of the type SmallFloat. The functions
are compiled and stored by Axiom when entered.
Once the functions are compiled the draw command only needs the names of
the functions to execute. Here is a compiled functions example:
Note that the parameter range does not take the variable name as in the
case of uncompiled functions. It is understood that the indicated range
applies to the parameter of the functions, which in this case is t.
