- #1
thetexan
- 269
- 12
Let's say I want to calculate some instantaneous speeds during a trip from city a to city b.
I start down the highway from an initial speed of zero then increased to 55. After 15 minutes I increase to 70. Down to 60 for 2 minutes. Then up to 80 for 15. Back down to 70. Then a slow decrease to 0 for the last 5 minutes.
I keep all of the data points along the way and can take these data and plot a curve.
Is there a formula that represents this curve? How can I discover the formula? In other words how can a curve be reverse engineered to find the formula?
Which brings up the big question...does any simple curve I can draw on the blackboard have a formula and is there a way to find it?
Tex
I start down the highway from an initial speed of zero then increased to 55. After 15 minutes I increase to 70. Down to 60 for 2 minutes. Then up to 80 for 15. Back down to 70. Then a slow decrease to 0 for the last 5 minutes.
I keep all of the data points along the way and can take these data and plot a curve.
Is there a formula that represents this curve? How can I discover the formula? In other words how can a curve be reverse engineered to find the formula?
Which brings up the big question...does any simple curve I can draw on the blackboard have a formula and is there a way to find it?
Tex