Graph of the World

I wanted to post this note many months ago, but I guess I procastinated.

In this note, I would like to show how to do a similar graph like the above, to graph literally anything in a single function (As long as it is a function of x), and invite anybody to make a graph like this, depicting an object (be it a building, or an ant). Then, I will compile the graphs together such that graphing the single function depicts any object we have made.

In the image above, I have depicted the Empire State Building and the Singapore Parliament house in a single function.


How to do it\textbf{How to do it}

First, let me introduce this function: (xk)xk2(kx)+(x+a)x+a2(x+a)\frac{\left|\left(x-k\right)-\left|x-k\right|\right|}{2\left(k-x\right)}+\frac{\left|\left(x+a\right)-\left|x+a\right|\right|}{2\left(x+a\right)}

The above function, basically graphs y=0y=0 from x= to x=ax=-\infty \text{ to } x=-a and x=k to x=x=k \text{ to } x=\infty, and y=1y=1 from x=a to x=kx=-a \text{ to } x=k, assuming aa and kk to be positive real numbers.

Now, if you can see where this is going, if I ×\times that above function by f(x)f(x), what would I get? I get y=0y=0 from x= to x=ax=-\infty \text{ to } x=-a and x=k to x=x=k \text{ to } x=\infty, and y=f(x)y=f(x) from x=a to x=kx=-a \text{ to } x=k.


For the case of f(x)=x2f(x) = x^{2}, a=2a=2 and k=1k=1:

Graph of x2((x1)x12(1x)+(x+2)x+22(x+2))x^2\left(\frac{\left|\left(x-1\right)-\left|x-1\right|\right|}{2\left(1-x\right)}+\frac{\left|\left(x+2\right)-\left|x+2\right|\right|}{2\left(x+2\right)}\right)

You can try it yourself here


Now, what if we want to graph y=x2y=x^{2} from x=2x=-2 to x=1x=1 and then y=(x2)3y=(x-2)^{3} from x=1x=1 to x=3x=3? Easy, we just add 22 functions together:

Graph of x2((x1)x12(1x)+(x+2)x+22(x+2))+(x2)3((x3)x32(3x)+(x1)x12(x1))x^2\left(\frac{\left|\left(x-1\right)-\left|x-1\right|\right|}{2\left(1-x\right)}+\frac{\left|\left(x+2\right)-\left|x+2\right|\right|}{2\left(x+2\right)}\right)+\left(x-2\right)^3\left(\frac{\left|\left(x-3\right)-\left|x-3\right|\right|}{2\left(3-x\right)}+\frac{\left|\left(x-1\right)-\left|x-1\right|\right|}{2\left(x-1\right)}\right)


And so we are done with the basis of how to graph any object you want, all you have to do is keep adding the functions together until you get the desired shape.

Now, what if your desired shape is referenced from a picture? No worries, Desmos enables you to add a picture for reference:

Sidenote: To achieve shading (For the picture above, the shading is red), just add an inequality. To know what I mean, try y>xy>x. The above picture took me about 45 minutes.

You might want to see this as an example


Graph Submission details\textbf{Graph Submission details}

If you want to make one of these graphs, and want to submit yours too, just post the link of your graph into the comments section. However, for your graph to be accepted, it has to pass some requirements:

Requirements:

\bullet Your graph must be y=0y=0 from x=x=-\infty to x=k1x=k_{1} and from x=x=\infty to x=k2x=k_{2}, where k1xk2k_{1}\le x\le k_{2} is the section where your object exists. This is to allow me to add multiple objects to a single function's graph (Like how I added the Empire State Building and the Singapore Parliament House together into a single function.)

\bullet Your Graph should have a height of roughly between 55 to 2020. This is to avoid graphs that are too small or too big to be added into the compilation.


Well that's about it, have fun making one of these graphs! If you have any questions, post them in the comments section.

#Algebra #Geometry #Functions #Graphs #FUN

Note by Julian Poon
5 years, 10 months ago

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Comments

In response to Apple: Excellent work!\color{#FFFFFF}{\text{Excellent work!}}

Nihar Mahajan - 5 years, 10 months ago

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In response to Lameness: More Lameness\color{#FFFFFF}{\text{More Lameness}}

Julian Poon - 5 years, 10 months ago

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I am not lame -_-\color{#FFFFFF}{\text{I am not lame -\_-}}

Nihar Mahajan - 5 years, 10 months ago

On a slightly more practical level, NURBS, or "non-uniform rational B-spline", have been developed to provide functions of fairly arbitrary curves and surfaces for computer graphics and industrial uses. They are extremely powerful and amendable to mathematical methods, as compared to conventional "elementary functions" of mathematics. What you are proposing is something analogous, but for discretized shapes. It's a start, but needs more work to attain the same functionality as NURBS. See Bezier Curves for an easy-to-understand text on a subset of NURBS.

Michael Mendrin - 5 years, 10 months ago

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Wow. I didn't know this kind of thing was practical

Julian Poon - 5 years, 10 months ago
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