Teach Graphics Using Excel in Place of a Graphing Calculator

摘要

Excel spreadsheets were developed to teach the underlying math in a computer graphics course including reviewing basic linear algebra operations, tracing a series of OpenGL transformations, and creating Bezier curves and surfaces with forward differences. Each spreadsheet contains an English overview of the mathematical process and the numerical result of each sub step thus providing a high level of abstraction. Double clicking a numerical result shows the underlying equation and operands used. The authors recommend using Excel in place of a graphing calculator in a computer graphics course.