Smooth, Planar Curve
Definition
A smooth, planar curve refers to a curved line that does not have any sharp corners or cusps. It is continuous and can be represented by an equation.
Analogy
Imagine drawing a perfect circle using only one stroke without lifting your pen. The resulting shape would be a smooth, planar curve.
Related terms
Derivative: The rate at which a function changes with respect to its independent variable. It represents the slope of a tangent line to a curve.
Concavity: Describes whether a graph is bending upward or downward over an interval.
Inflection Point: A point on a graph where concavity changes from positive to negative (or vice versa), indicating where it switches from bending upward to downward (or vice versa).
"Smooth, Planar Curve" appears in:
Are you a college student?
Study guides for the entire semester
200k practice questions
Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.