In a graphics based programming, I’m starting to get the impression that it is better to store data in slope-intercept form rather than the raw start and end points.
Is my impression correct?
Why?
Hi.
Posted Jan 10, 2018, 11:05 PM UTC · edited
You can store a line segment as
To store a line, it's probably better to go by a particular point on the line and its direction angle (three numbers), or two particular points on the line (still four numbers), just so you can still represent vertical lines.
Also, r/learnprogramming is a better idea, and maybe r/gamedev.
Thanks. You’re mentioning vertical lines just because of the special case where the slope is not defined?
yes
I recommend against using angle measure if you can help it. Store a segment either as coordinates of the start point and a displacement vector between the two ends, or two pairs of point coordinates. For a line, the right format depends what you want to do with it. Sometimes it makes sense to put it in a form like ax + by = c and store a, b, and c.
There is definitely loss of precision with both storage and usage of the direction angle.
Not just loss of precision, but also circular functions are a pain in the butt and almost always unnecessary.
This question is better suited to a programming sub because how you store data depends significantly and how you use it. Mathematically the two are the same.
I kind of thought that too, but was torn.
I’ll post to one of those as well. Or cross post if I can.
Not exactly. The line segment (0, 0) to (0, 1), for example.