Abstract:

ESDU 01011 presents families of curve shapes and algebraic functions as an aid to the effective representation of experimental, numerical and graphical data by the selection of suitable such functions. The functions presented are divided into three categories: General multi-term functions; Logic functions; single-term functions. No distinctions are made here between the various applications of such algebraic functions, i.e.

• representation of experimental results;
• representation of output from calculation procedures;
• representation of pre-existing curves from graphical representations of lines, carpets and lattices.

A companion Data Item, ESDU 06025 "Guide to linear Least Squares curve fitting techniques", gives more extensive guidance on the use of the functions listed here. That Item also contains numerous and extensive worked examples on the use of some of those functions to represent both experimental results and computed data.