Algebraically rectifiable parametric curves (Q1315802): Difference between revisions

A differentiable parametric curve \((x(t),y(t))\) is said to be a polynomial parametric one, if \(x(t)\), \(y(t)\) both are polynomials. In this paper sufficient and necessary conditions for the arc length \(s(t) = \int^ t_ 0 \sqrt{x'{}^ 2(\tau) + y'{}^ 2(\tau)} d\tau\) of a polynomial parametric curve to be an algebraic function of the parameter are formulated. The fundamental result is the following: Theorem 3.1. Let \(p(t)\) be a polynomial of positive degree with coefficients in \(\mathbb{C}\). Then \(\int \sqrt{p(t)} dt\) is an algebraic function iff there exists a polynomial \(h(t)\) such that \(ph = h'{}^ 2\). Corollary 3.4. If the arc length of a polynomially parametrized curve is an algebraic function of the parameter, then that function is the square root of a polynomial. It is noted that polynomial curves having this property encompass the so- called Pythagorean-hodograph curves. Some details are given for the case of algebraically rectifiable quintics.