Editing Curve sketching (section)

{{distinguish|Digital curve sketching}}

[[File:Kurvendiskussion.svg|thumb|Graph of the function 3''x''<sup>3</sup>-5''x''<sup>2</sup>+8 (black) and its first (9''x''<sup>2</sup>-10''x'', red) and second (18''x''-10, blue) [[derivative]]s. An ''x'' value where the ''y'' value of the red, or the blue, curve [[zero of a function|vanishes]] (becomes 0) gives rise to a [[local extremum]] (marked "HP", "TP"), or an [[inflection point]] ("WP"), of the black curve, respectively.]]

In [[geometry]], '''curve sketching''' (or '''curve tracing''') are techniques for producing a rough idea of overall shape of a [[plane curve]] given its equation, without computing the large numbers of points required for a detailed plot. It is an application of the theory of curves to find their main features.