Parametric Graphing Tool

Introduction

Parametric equations use transformations of independent variables to graph a function. The engine randomly generates, graphs, and presents parametric equations in two different viewing modes: light and dark.

Examples

Installation

• Download Processing
• Open the src/Driver folder in the Processing IDE
• To change the tick lines for the graph, modify sizeX and sizeY in Settings.java
• To change the visual accuracy of the display, modify drawStep in Settings.java
  • Decrease the value to increase accuracy, increase to decrease accuracy
• To change the domain of t modify lowerBound and upperBound inside Settings.java

Tutorial

Run the Driver Processing file, it will open a Processing canvas. The parametric equations are shown in the upper left corner, in case you want to recreate the equation elsewhere. A button is drawn in the lower left corner, when pressed it will redraw a new random parametric equation. Some parametric equations might not "appear" on the graph- this is due to the randomized constant generator: just press the random button to get a better equation! The display method uses thousands of points to redraw the equation. Therefore, there might be spaces "breaking" up the graph. Enjoy!

Additional Notes

• getY(float) is negated inside the display method to flip the image so it correctly represents the mathematical graph.
• Canvas size should not be modifed, as it will break the layout, which is hardcoded. Positions are hardcoded because of the way Processing uses size()
• draw() inside Driver.pde is not needed with this implementation. If you want to redraw something every frame, then add it here.
• To change the tick length, modify lineLength inside Plane.pde