Mathematic Questions for Games

Xu Li
Zhejiang Normal Univercity
179346696@qq.com
Contents
2.10 How do you convert an arbitrary
1 Vectors & Point vector to a unit vector? 3
1.1 What is the difference between a 2.11 How do you compute the cross
point and a vector? 2 product of two vectors? Informally,
1.2 What is a right handed coordinate what does the cross product do? 3
system? 2
1.3 How do you compute the dot 2.12 Give an example where we need
product of two vectors? Informally, the cross product for Computer
what does the dot product do? Give an Graphics applications. 3
example where we need the dot 2.13 What are implicit and parametric
product for Computer Graphics expressions for a plane? 3
applications. 2 2.14 Write an implicit equation for a
1.4 How do you compute the plane given three points. 3
projection of one vector onto another?2 2.15 Write a parametric equation for a
2 Parametric & Implicit plane given three points. 3
2.1 What are the implicit and 2.16 Compute the intersection between
parametric forms of a line? Why are two arbitrary lines. What is the best
they named implicit and parametric? 2 choice for representing each line: a
2.2 What is the implicit form of a parametric or implicit expression?
circle centered at (xc, yc) with radius Justify your answer. 3
r? 2 2.17 Compute the intersection between
2.3 Write an implicit equation for a a line and a plane. What is the best
line given two points.2 choice for representing the line: a
2.4 Write a parametric equation for a parametric or an implicit expression?
line given two points. 2 What is the best choice for
2.5 Suppose you are given a representing the plane: a parametric
parametric equation for a line. or an implicit expression? Justify your
Convert from this representation to an answers. 4
implicit equation for that same line. 2 2.18 Compute the intersection between
2.6 Given an implicit equation for a a line and an arbitrary sphere. Which
line, convert it to a parametric representation did you choose for
representation. 2 representing the line and the sphere
2.7 Given a slope / intercept equation (implicit or parametric)? Justify your
for a line, convert it to parametric and choice. What are the conditions for this
implicit representations. 3 intersection to exist? 4
2.8 Give a situation in a computer 2.19 When multiplying two arbitrary
graphics application where you would matrices together - What conditions
prefer a parametric representation of a must be satisfied for this operation to
line to an implicit representation. 3 be possible? 4
2.9 Give a situation where you would
prefer an implicit representation of a
line to a parametric one. 3
1
1 Vectors & Point
1.1 What is the difference between a point
and a vector?
A vector In physics and geometry, a Euclidean vector, used to
represent physical quantities that have both magnitude and
direction.
A point is only used to represent a position in coordinate system
which cannot be used to represent magnitude and direction.
Points are measured relative to the origin. Vectors are

intrinsically relative to everything. So a vector can be used to =
represent a point. The point (x, y) is the point at the head of the
vector [x, y] when its tail is placed at the origin. But vectors
dont have a location

2 Parametric & Implicit

2.1 What are the implicit and parametric
forms of a line? Why are they named
implicit and parametric?
In mathematics, an implicit equation is a relation of the form
R(x1,...,xn) = 0, where R is a function of several variables (often a
polynomial).
For example, the implicit equation of a line is
, = + + 1 = 0
In parametric form is
1.2 What is a right handed coordinate =
system? = 1
We use 3D coordinate system to communicate with space 2.2 What is the implicit form of a circle
graphic and mathematics. In a right handed coordinate system, centered at (xc, yc) with radius r?
using right hand to point to X,Y,Z axis. + z goes out from
screen. Thumb points to +X. The index finger points to +Y. The (, ) = ( )2 + ( )2 2 = 0
second finger points to +Z.

2.3 Write an implicit equation for a line

given two points.
(1, 1);

(2, 2);

2 2
(, ) = =0
1 2 1 2
1.3 How do you compute the dot product
of two vectors? Informally, what does
2.4 Write a parametric equation for a line
the dot product do? Give an example
given two points.
where we need the dot product for
(1, 1);
Computer Graphics applications.
Formula: (2, 2);

= () Let t =
1
=
1
Two vectors: 21 21
= (1, 1, 1);
= (2, 2, 2); = (2 1) + 1
Dot product: = 2 1 + 1
= = 12 + 12 + 12
C is a scalar.

Informally, dot product is used to compute the numerical value. 2.5 Suppose you are given a parametric
Dot product can be used to find the angle between two vectors. equation for a line. Convert from this
In Computer Graphics applications: Diffuse Calculation/ representation to an implicit equation
Projection.
1.4 How do you compute the projection of for that same line.
one vector onto another? =
parametric equation:
=

implicit representations :

(, ) = + = 0
2.6 Given an implicit equation for a line,
convert it to a parametric
2
 representation.
(, ) = + + = 0

=

converted
=

2.7 Given a slope / intercept equation for a

line, convert it to parametric and
implicit representations.
= 1
2.13 What are implicit and parametric
implicit representation :
expressions for a plane?
(, ) = + 1 = 0 implicit equation :
parametric representation : , , = + + c + = 0( 0)

= For example:

= 1 , , = 6 + 2 + 21 = 0
2.8 Give a situation in a computer parametric equation :
graphics application where you would = + +
prefer a parametric representation of a = + +
line to an implicit representation. = + +
In general, a parametric curve is a function of one independent For example:
parameter (usually denoted t). For the corresponding concept = 2 +
with two (or more) independent parameters, see Parametric
surface. = 3 + 2
= 6 + + 3
Another important use of parametric equations is in the field of
computer aided design (CAD). [1]
2.14 Write an implicit equation for a plane
2.9 Give a situation where you would given three points.
prefer an implicit representation of a (2,3,6); (2,5,7); (1,3,9);
line to a parametric one.
In mathematical calculation, such as derivative integration and = 0,2,1 ;
linear computing, implicit representation is better than
parametric representation. = 1,0,3 ;
(x + 2) (y 3) (z 6)
2.10 How do you convert an arbitrary 0 2 1 =0
1 0 3
vector to a unit vector? (, , ) = 6 + 2 + 21 = 0

=
2.15 Write a parametric equation for a
plane given three points.
2.11 How do you compute the cross product (2,3,6); (2,5,7); (1,3,9);
of two vectors? Informally, what does = 0,2,1 ;
the cross product do?
= 1,0,3 ;
=
Informally, cross product is used to compute normal of two
(x + 2) (y 3) (z 6)
vectors. 0 2 1 =0
1 0 3
(, , ) = 6 + 2 + 21 = 0
2.12 Give an example where we need the
cross product for Computer Graphics
applications. = 2 +
Cross product is used to compute the normal of reflection in = 3 + 2
Computer Graphics applications. = 6 + + 3

2.16 Compute the intersection between two

arbitrary lines. What is the best choice
for representing each line: a
parametric or implicit expression?
3
 Justify your answer.
parametric expression:
= 2 + 1 = +2
1: = 3 + 2 2: = 2 + 4
= 4 + 3 = 4 1
2 + 1 = + 2
3 + 2 = 2 + 4 = 0; = 1.
4 + 3 = 4 1
Intersection:(1,2,3);
Implicit expression:
1: 2 + 1 = 0; 3 2 + 1 = 0;
2: 2 = 0; 4 + 7 = 0;
2x + 1 z + 4x + z 7 = 0 x = 1;
3x 2y + 1 = 0 y = 2; :
4x + z 7 = 0 z = 3;
intersection:(1,2,3); = 1 + 1
= 2 + 2
Implicit expression is the best choice for representing.
= 3 + 3
:
2.17 Compute the intersection between a 1 ( ) + 2 ( ) + 3 ( ) = 0;
line and a plane. What is the best
( 1) 1 + ( 2) 2 + ( 3) 3
choice for representing the line: a =
1 1 + 2 2 + 3 3
parametric or an implicit expression?
What is the best choice for = 1 + 1
put t into = 2 + 2 to get the intersection.(If using
representing the plane: a parametric = 3 + 3
or an implicit expression? Justify your implicit expression for the line, it's difficult to compute the
result).
answers. when 1 1 + 2 2 + 3 3 = 0, intersection is
non-existent.

2.19 When multiplying two arbitrary

matrices together - What conditions
must be satisfied for this operation to
be possible?
A matrix's column must equal to B matrix's row, The AB can be
multiplied.

B matrix's column must equal to A matrix's row, The BA can be

multiplied.

:
References
= 1 + 1 [1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parametric_eq
= 2 + 2
= 3 + 3 uation#Usefulness
:
1 ( 1) + 2 ( 2) + 3 ( 3) = 0;

(1 1) 1 + (2 2) 2 + (3 3) 3
=
1 1 + 2 2 + 3 3

= 1 + 1
put t into = 2 + 2 to get the intersection.(If using
= 3 + 3
implicit expression for the line, it's difficult to compute the
result).
when 1 1 + 2 2 + 3 3 = 0, intersection is
non-existent.
2.18 Compute the intersection between a
line and an arbitrary sphere. Which
representation did you choose for
representing the line and the sphere
(implicit or parametric)? Justify your
choice. What are the conditions for this
intersection to exist?