Is There a Software That Converts Drawings into Mathematical Functions?

[zaddyzad]

I just got one of the most tedious projects of my life... in math class! I need to take a picture and put it on graph paper and plot 2 axis then write over 100 functions which if all graphed would make the picture I chose. We need to use 16 different types of functions and I was wondering if there's a program that could help me with this. I was thinking of something like Paint and every curve/line you draw it gives you a function that matches it. Anyone have any suggestions to my project that might help me such as: pictures to choose, and a program.


I was thinking of doing a train.

 

[chiro]

Hey zaddyzad.

This is not an easy project, but an automated way would be to use an edge detection filter and then turn every edge into a function by fitting a polynomial.

If you don't have programming experience then I wouldn't bother but if you have enough, then that is the approach I would take to automate the entire task.

 

[zaddyzad]

Yeah, I don't hahahha. I was hoping there's already a program that can write functions for lines you draw/trace etc...

If anyone knows of something like that it'd be appreciated if you told me about it :D.

 

[Joffan]

I'd start from the 16 types of function.

Would sin and cos count as 1 or 2? Tan?
Exponential, log, linear, poly-2 -3 -4, hyperbola, gaussian, ...I'm thinking sunrise, hills, volcanoes, waves, clouds, maybe simplified trees. :-)

 

[hddd123456789]

I have to say that's an inventive exercise (sorry, I'm aware you find it tedious). It really forces one to explore the ways to bend functions to your will. I don't know of any program that will do that, except perhaps some heavy-weight mathematics applications, but do know programming. And I know enough of it know that it's very technical what you're wanting to do.