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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[ϕ_] = 1 + 1/20 Sin[20 ϕ]; 
 tb = Table[{r[ϕ] Cos[ϕ], r[ϕ] Sin[ϕ]}, {ϕ, 0, 2 π, 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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    $\begingroup$ Interpolation should work. Could you post two example curves to work with? $\endgroup$
    – Szabolcs
    Commented Feb 2, 2013 at 18:06
  • $\begingroup$ 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. $\endgroup$
    – DeeDee
    Commented Feb 3, 2013 at 1:50
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    $\begingroup$ Please don't post additional information concerning your question as a comment. Please add the info to your original question by making an edit. $\endgroup$
    – m_goldberg
    Commented Feb 3, 2013 at 5:24
  • $\begingroup$ you mean ListPolarPlot? (there isn't any built-in function named PolarParametricPlot) $\endgroup$
    – kglr
    Commented Feb 3, 2013 at 12:35
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    $\begingroup$ 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. $\endgroup$
    – Michael E2
    Commented Feb 3, 2013 at 15:16

1 Answer 1

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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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  • $\begingroup$ @ Gregory Rut Thanks. $\endgroup$
    – DeeDee
    Commented Feb 3, 2013 at 21:28

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