# Need an asymetric curve **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 30, 2014, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-an-asymetric-curve/680100 "2014-01-30T03:41:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-an-asymetric-curve/680100/1 "2014-01-30T03:41:18Z")
This is for an art project, hence Cafe Society. It ried fractals, too busy. Tried logrhythmic, too swirly. What I need is a nice smooth curve that starts one way and then goes the other, but not as regular as a sine wave. Sort of French Curve-ish, but just one, not a bunch of 'em. Dimensions are 16" long by 6" wide, to be specific. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-an-asymetric-curve/680100/2 "2014-01-30T03:43:34Z")
What are you actually looking for? An equation? A physical object? A pointer to something you can buy? Just ideas? ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-an-asymetric-curve/680100/3 "2014-01-30T04:18:26Z")
A picture of the curve would be excellent. I’m going to be putting organ pipes along the curve, so if it had nicely spaced dots, each a bit further than the previous, that would be even awesomer. [Here’s the log curve](http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fx_files/21749/1/chambered%20nautilus.jpg) I tried first. That works great except for being mostly square rather than rectangular. I tried stretching it but didn’t get anything I liked. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-an-asymetric-curve/680100/4 "2014-01-30T15:28:49Z")
Have you looked through Google images of French curves? Also look at ship’s curves and Vary Form curves. If you are getting a physical product, look at flexible curves; they let you make whatever form you want and are marked like rulers. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-an-asymetric-curve/680100/5 "2014-01-30T15:47:57Z")
Illustrator and beziers are your friends. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-an-asymetric-curve/680100/6 "2014-01-30T16:03:06Z")
Don’t know what you want exactly, but have a look at these: Power curves greater than parabolas (y = x[sup]n[/sup], where n \> 2). For odd powers, the curves start low and go high. Exponentials and Logarithms Hyperbolas Super Ellipses Trigonometric functions and inverse trig functions. You mention sines, but have a look at tangents, for instance, and inverse tangents Catenary Brachistochrone Cardioid Nephroid Lorentzian (Witch of Agnesi) Gaussian Hyperbolic Cosine Pursuit Curves ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-an-asymetric-curve/680100/7 "2014-01-30T16:06:11Z")
[y = x³?](https://www.google.com/search?q=y%3Dx3&client=safari&hl=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=-XfqUvKGNueX2QWZ24GwBA&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAA&biw=768&bih=904) ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-an-asymetric-curve/680100/8 "2014-01-30T16:57:45Z")
If the OP was trolling, I’d suggest a Poisson distribution. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2014, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-an-asymetric-curve/680100/9 "2014-02-01T16:01:45Z")
I have only the faintest idea what you are seeking, but I’d like to suggest you try tracing along the side of some of these things: Ukulele Guitar Woman Old Coca-Cola bottle Thistle flower