# intersection between two curves in Mathematica

I have two curves (drawn from points) in a plane, one is drawn with ListLinePlot and the other drawn with ParametricPlot. How can I determine the intersection between both curves? I cannot use (don't know how to) interpolation directly, since the curves are not graphs.

Let's say we have

 r[\[Phi]_] = 1 + 1/20 Sin[20 \[Phi]];
tb = Table[{r[\[Phi]] Cos[\[Phi]], r[\[Phi]] Sin[\[Phi]]}, {\[Phi], 0, 2 \[Pi], 0.1}];
ListLinePlot[tb]


and we interpolate data stored in tb. E.g. at x = 0.95 there are 4 (or 5) different values for y. How can I plot interpolating function? I am sure I am missing something. Theoretically, I could use interpolation across segments of points on a curve but this is something I want to avoid.

Any ideas?

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## migrated from stackoverflow.comFeb 2 '13 at 18:02

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Interpolation should work. Could you post two example curves to work with? –  Szabolcs Feb 2 '13 at 18:06
Hi, Szabolcs. Thank you for your response. Let's say we have r[[Phi]_] = 1 + 1/20 Sin[20 [Phi]]; tb = Table[{r[[Phi]] Cos[[Phi]], r[[Phi]] Sin[[Phi]]}, {[Phi], 0, 2 [Pi], 0.1}]; ListLinePlot[tb] and we interpolate data stored in tb. E.g. at x = 0.95 there are 4 (or 5) different values for y. How can I plot interpolating function? I am sure I am missing something. –  DeeDee Feb 3 '13 at 1:50
Please don't post additional information concerning your question as a comment. Please add the info to your original question by making an edit. –  m_goldberg Feb 3 '13 at 5:24
you mean ListPolarPlot? (there isn't any built-in function named PolarParametricPlot) –  kguler Feb 3 '13 at 12:35
Generically, if two curves are given by $(x,y) = f(s)$ and $(x,y)=g(t)$, you solve $f(s)=g(t)$ for parameter values $s$, $t$. Just how to set that up in Mathematica might depend on how the particular curves $f$ and $g$ are defined. (Which is why you're being asked for more information.) You might use FindRoot or NSolve for instance. –  Michael E2 Feb 3 '13 at 15:16

I'm not sure that I fully understand your question.

If you interpolate the data stored in table tb, you will get a function of x instead of φ.

Maybe this could work for you:

tb2 = Table[{φ, r[φ Cos[φ],
r[φ] Sin[φ]}, {φ, 0, 2 φ, 0.1}]; (* just added φ to the list *)
intb = Interpolation[tb2[[;;, 1 ;; 3 ;; 2]]]; (* interpolation of y[φ] *)
inta = Interpolation[tb2[[;;, 1 ;; 2]]]; (* interpolation of x[φ] *)
ParametricPlot[{inta[φ], intb[φ]}, {φ, 0, 2 π}]


Perhaps someone could provide a much more elegant solution but this one is easy and it should work!

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@ Gregory Rut Thanks. –  DeeDee Feb 3 '13 at 21:28