Contact Between Curves
Two curves in the plane intersecting at a point p are said to have:
- 1-point contact if the curves have a simple crossing (not tangent).
- 2-point contact if the two curves are tangent.
- 3-point contact if the curvatures of the curves are equal. Such curves are said to be osculating.
- 4-point contact if the derivatives of the curvature are equal.
- 5-point contact if the second derivatives of the curvature are equal.
Read more about this topic: Contact (mathematics)
Famous quotes containing the words contact and/or curves:
“... for the modern soul, for which it is mere child’s play to bridge oceans and continents, there is nothing so impossible as to find the contact with the souls dwelling just around the corner.”
—Robert Musil (1880–1942)
“One way to do it might be by making the scenery penetrate the automobile. A polished black sedan was a good subject, especially if parked at the intersection of a tree-bordered street and one of those heavyish spring skies whose bloated gray clouds and amoeba-shaped blotches of blue seem more physical than the reticent elms and effusive pavement. Now break the body of the car into separate curves and panels; then put it together in terms of reflections.”
—Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977)