# Thread: Are the two curve being equivalent....

1. ## Are the two curve being equivalent....

dear all, are the following two curves
$r(t)=(t+\sqrt{3}t,2\cos t,\sqrt{3}t-\sin t)$
and
$\tilde r(t)=(2\cos\frac{t}{2},2\sin\frac{t}{2},-t)$
being equivalent?

Here, equivalence means that the two curves coincide after a rigid motion.

I find the second curve has curvature $1/4$, and torsion $-1/4$. However, it is difficult to solve the first one, and seems the result is not the same as the second one.

3x.

2. ## Re: Are the two curve being equivalent....

dear all, are the following two curves
$r(t)=(t+\sqrt{3}t,2\cos t,\sqrt{3}t-\sin t)$
and
$\tilde r(t)=(2\cos\frac{t}{2},2\sin\frac{t}{2},-t)$
being equivalent?

Here, equivalence means that the two curves coincide after a rigid motion.

I find the second curve has curvature $1/4$, and torsion $-1/4$. However, it is difficult to solve the first one, and seems the result is not the same as the second one.

3x.
This is the correct approach, so how did you try to calculate the torsion of the first one? Don't tell me you just didn't feel like doing the formula.

3. ## Re: Are the two curve being equivalent....

I am sorry that the problem typed in the book is wrong. And it is natural that I could not verify. Thx.