It is well known that x^2+y^2=1 is the equation of a circle with radius 1, centred at the origin. Now, suppose we let n be some positive integer. What does the graph of x^(2n)+y^(2n)=1 look like? Try thinking about how x^4+y^4=1 compares to x^2+y^2=1, before thinking about what will happen as n gets larger and larger.
Solution The applet below shows what happens as n increases; drag the slider to the right to see!
Dr Sam Marsh
Room G9, Hicks Building
Telephone: 0114 2223792 (internal extension: 23792)
email: s.j.marsh@shef.ac.uk