Folium of Descartes

Mathematica icon foliumOfDescartes.nb.

Description

folium of Descartes

Folium of Descartes is the curve x^3 + y^3 == 3x*y.

History

This curve is first discussed by Rene Descartes↗ in 1638.

Formulas

Cartesian: x^3 + y^3 == 3x*y.

Parametric: {3*t, 3t^2}/(1 + t^3). In this formula, the curve tends to the Origin as t→±∞. The curve tends to ∞ when t→-1. gcf icon folium_descarte.gcf

Polar: r==(3*Sin[θ]*Cos[θ])/(Sin[θ]^3+Cos[θ]^3). gcf icon folium_descarte_p.gcf

Its asymptote is y==x-1.

Properties

descartes stamp

above: a stamp with Descartes and his curve

See: Websites on Plane Curves, Printed References On Plane Curves.

Robert Yates: Curves and Their Properties.

The MacTutor History of Mathematics archive↗.


© 1995-2008 by Xah Lee.
Xah Signet