|  

With the advent of computers, plotting a function is an almost trivial task, and visualization has become one of the most rapidly emerging aspects of mathematics. Rarely however, if ever, do we stop to consider whether the graph of a function is attractive to look at! The shapes of graphical objects can be interesting in and of themselves. For example, how do graphic artists know which functions will give them the desired visual results? How can you turn an ordinary mathematical function into a work of art? You'll observe the generation of some simple but interesting graphic images in Mathematical Explorer, focusing on the use of parametric plots to generate curves in the plane.