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What is a parametric equation?

A parametric equation is one that is defined in terms of a single parameter, usually called t.

This means that, instead of the standard geometric equation, where y and x are defined by each other, e.g. y=3x, they are defined by this other parameter, e.g. y=t, x=t/3, where t is the input.

Both of the examples given are the same, merely in a different format, it's important to understand how to rearrange a parametric equation into a geometric equation.

All you have to do is rearrange to find t on it's own, and then equate the two:

y=t,

x=t/3, 3x=t=y, y=3x.

James B. A Level Maths tutor, GCSE Maths tutor

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