The view of the trefoil knot shown in Figure 8 is accurate, but it doesnt reveal the
Question:
The view of the trefoil knot shown in Figure 8 is accurate, but it doesn’t reveal the whole story. Use the parametric equations
x = (2 + cos 1.5t) cos t
y = (2 + cos 1.5t) sin t
z = sin 1.5t
to sketch the curve by hand as viewed from above, with gaps indicating where the curve passes over itself. Start by showing that the projection of the curve onto the xy-plane has polar coordinates r = 2 + cos 1.5t and θ = t, so r varies between 1 and 3. Then show that z has maximum and minimum values when the projection is halfway between r = 1 and r = 3.
When you have finished your sketch, use a computer to draw the curve with viewpoint directly above and compare with your sketch. Then use the computer to draw the curve from several other viewpoints. You can get a better impression of the curve if you plot a tube with radius 0.2 around the curve. (Use the tubeplot command in Maple or the tubecurve or Tube command in Mathematica.)
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