A 'French Curve' Computer Plotting Subroutine

Abstract

A computer subroutine has been developed which will result in a smooth-curve plot through a given set of data points, similar to the plot that a draftsman would produce using a French curve. The method is especially useful when it is desired to plot a smooth curve through computed points and the computation of each point is fairly lengthy, so that excessive computer time would be used if a smooth curve were plotted by direct computation of an adequate number of points. It can also be used to plot a curve through experimental data points if the measurements are sufficiently precise -- that is, if there is not a significant amount of random error in the measurements. The method produces a curve that exactly passes through each of the given data points, rather than giving a least-squares best fit curve. The plotting algorithm is described and examples of its use are given.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1971
Accession Number
AD0730026

Entities

People

  • Lamont V. Blake

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

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Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Coefficients
  • Computations
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Curvature
  • Digital Computers
  • Equations
  • Experimental Data
  • Intervals
  • Mathematical Analysis
  • Measurement
  • Plotters
  • Plotting
  • Polynomials
  • Procedures (Computers)
  • Radio Frequency
  • Simultaneous Equations

Readers

  • Approximation Theory.
  • Computer Science.