GEMS March 7th Session

As we can utilize letters and words to write out mathematics (e.g. 2+2=4 can be written as “two plus two is equal to four”), this session seeks to explore the near reverse: how can we use mathematics to some extent graph letters and words? Rather, could we formulate equations of curves that visually resemble text on a 2D-plane? If we include both conventional and nonconventional shapes too, this question is not only an interesting curiosity, but a question whose answer is quite prevalent in programs for computer graphics, animation, digital art, and font design!

We will approach this question by highlighting and constructing Bézier curves, which can approximate smooth curves by control (anchor) points on the plane. Furthermore, this session will showcase the mathematics of these curves, covering polynomials, linear interpolation, and parametrization (no prior knowledge assumed). Ultimately, we will simulate how graphs of Bézier curves can be drawn for various letters and shapes by applying a recursive method called de Casteljau’s algorithm. Join us to explore an example of how mathematics can serve as a gateway to art and design!