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Unit: Environment modeling

Modeling grass with parabolas

Discover how we create parabolic arcs by weaving together straight lines. This lesson touches on midpoints and takes 45-60 minutes to complete. Plus there's a hands-on activity at the end!

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Calculating parabolas

Discover how computers draw millions of parabolas really efficiently using DeCastlejau's algorithm. This lesson introduces weighted averages of two points leading to parametric curves and takes 35-50 minutes to complete.

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About this unit

When creating the virtual worlds that their characters live in, technical artists at Pixar look to the natural world for inspiration and mimic it using mathematical formulas. This lesson dives into the math that was used to create the landscapes in "Brave," starting with a single blade of grass.