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Mathematical functions in our environment
- michaelcampbell 17y agoClever. On a semi-related note, does anyone know if there is a mathematical function that describes the shape of the inside of a curling wave? I see what I think is the same shape in basically every surfing shot of someone "shooting the tube", and have always wondered if there was an elegant (or even any) formula that describes that shape.
- chancho 17y ago> f(x) = 1/3(x^3 + y^3) = 6xy Pesky algebraic geometry. Get out of my graph!
- Tim_M 17y agoIt's nice to think that every plant has some mathematical formula encoded within it's genes: http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=polar+r+%3D+%28sin%28theta%29%2B1%29+%289%2F10+cos%288+theta%29%2B1%29+%281%2F10+cos%2824+theta%29%2B1%29+%281%2F10+cos%28200+theta%29%2B9%2F10%29 http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=polar+r+%3D+%28sin%28th... but given a shape, what's the easiest way to find the formula. Is there automated tools to do this from picture files?