Functions and parametric surfaces

Visualizing z = f(x, y), or, with polar coordinates, z = f(r, &theta). You can specify any function of x and y (or, in the case of polar coordinates, of r and &theta, writing &theta as t). Parametric surfaces are based on three unit vectors i, j and k in the directions of the x-, y and z-axes, respectively. You can use

• Cartesian coordinates x and y, polar coordinates r and t (=&theta) or surface parameters u and v. In the latter case you should also use the unit vectors i, j and k, in that order.

• numerical constants such as -0.1

• the functions abs, acos, asin, atan, ceil, cos, cosh, exp, floor, log, max, min, round, sgn, sin, sinh, sqrt, tan, tanh, and the constants &pi (written as pi) and e

• the operators + - * / ^

• parentheses ( ), { }, [ ]

This applet was written by Leen Ammeraal and is related to Java programs discussed in Computer Graphics for Java Programmers, 2nd Edition, by Ammeraal and Zhang.