Programming geometry is the study of using code to find measurements associated with shapes, lines, and points in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) spaces. This includes tasks such as calculating the area of a circle, the volume of a cube, or the distance between two points. In this article, we'll explore the basics of programming geometry and look at one of the simplest calculations: finding the distance between two points in 2D.
When working with programming geometry, it's important to first understand the coordinates of each point. In 2D, each point is represented by two numbers, an x-coordinate, and a y-coordinate. These values indicate the position of the point relative to the origin, which is usually located at the top left corner of the screen.
Once the coordinates of the points are known, it's easy to calculate the distance between them. The most common formula used to calculate the distance between two points is the Pythagorean theorem. This is also known as the distance formula and is written as:
distance = √((x2 - x1)2 + (y2 - y1)2)
Using this formula, the distance between two points, (x1, y1) and (x2, y2), can be calculated by taking the square root of (x2 − x1)² + (y2 − y1)².
Let's look at a simple example.
- This code challenge will introduce the basics of doing geometry with computers
Question:
Write a function calculating the distance between point A and point B
hint:
Point objects have attributes x and y
solution:
Programming geometry can be an incredibly powerful tool to help solve complex problems in mathematics and engineering. It has opened up a world of possibilities, allowing us to explore new ways of thinking and solving problems. By using programming geometry, we can make highly efficient algorithms that can be applied to a wide range of applications. Programming geometry is a powerful tool that should be embraced by anyone looking to increase their knowledge and solve complex problems.
In conclusion, programming geometry is an important concept to understand when creating applications or games. It's also useful for working with data in two or three dimensions.