# [R] calculating arc length using R?

Fri Nov 14 18:44:17 CET 2003

Hi:

If your curve is in a 2-dim plane, then you can use the following
formula (in Tex notation):

\int_a^b \sqrt{1 + (\frac{df}{dx})^2} dx

So you need to take the derivative of your function first, and then
compute the integral of sqrt(1 + deriv^2) from a to b.

Here is a simple code to find the arclength of the curve: sin(x),
between -pi and pi.
##########################
arclen <- function(gexp, a, b) {
g <- function(x) { }
body(g) <- D(gexp, "x")
farc <- function(x) sqrt(1 + g(x)^2)
integrate(farc,low=a,upp=b)\$val
}

gexp <- expression(sin(x))
arclen(gexp,-pi,pi)
###########################

Best,
Ravi.

----- Original Message -----
From: Greg Trafton <trafton at itd.nrl.navy.mil>
Date: Thursday, November 13, 2003 9:37 pm
Subject: [R] calculating arc length using R?

> Hi, All.  I have a function I want to know the plotted length of.
> is it
> possible to calculate the length of the function (e.g., arc length)?
>
> for example, if I want to know the length of the line of
> sin(x) from -pi to pi, how can I do that in R?
>
> thanks!
> greg
>
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