Definition:Line/Curve
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Definition
A curve is a line which may or may not be straight.
Plane Curve
A plane curve is a curve which can be embedded in the plane.
Skew Curve
A skew curve is a curve which cannot be embedded in the plane.
Space Curve
A space curve is a curve which is embedded in $3$-space, and may or may not be a skew curve.
Arc
An arc is a specific part of a curve.
Also known as
The term curve can often be seen for curved line, but is then specifically understood to mean a line which is specifically not straight.
Also see
- Results about curves can be found here.
Historical Note
Definition:Curve/Historical Note
Sources
- 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): curve
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): curve