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Websites to Visit - National Curve Bank

Author(s): 
The Editors

The National Curve Bank (http://nationalcurvebank.org/) is a resource for students of mathematics.  It provides features - for example, animation and interaction - that a printed page cannot offer.  It also includes geometrical, algebraic, and historical aspects of curves, the kinds of attributes that make the mathematics special and enrich classroom learning.

As its name states, the site contains graphs of various important curves, from curves discovered by the Greeks, including the quadratrix of Hippias, the cissoid of Diocles, and the conchoid of Nicomedes, to more recent curves, including the folium of Descartes, the lemniscate of Bernoulli, and the brachistochrone.  The site displays not only an animated creation of each curve, but also gives the history of the curve and some biographical information on its originator. 

In addition to curves, there are visuals of numerous other mathematical objects, and the site is constantly seeking new contributions.

The Editors, "Websites to Visit - National Curve Bank," Convergence (July 2007)