Asymptote (Vector Graphics Language)

Asymptote (Vector Graphics Language)

Getting Started - Basics - Drawing - Labeling - Filling - Useful functions - Examples - Macros and Packages Help - Reference - Advanced Asymptote - 3D Graphics - CSE5 Package - How to

Asymptote is a powerful vector graphics language designed for creating mathematical diagrams and figures. It can output images in either eps or pdf format, and is compatible with the standard mathematics typesetting language, LaTeX. It is also a complete programming language, and has cleaner syntax than its predecessor, MetaPost, which was a language used only for two-dimensional graphics.

Here is an example of an image that can be produced using Asymptote:

In a sense, Asymptote is the ruler and compass of typesetting.

You can use Asymptote on the AoPSWiki right now, by enclosing the Asymptote code within <asy>...</asy> tags. For example, the following code

<asy>
draw((0,0)--(3,7),red);
dot((0,0));
dot((3,7));
label("Produced with Asymptote "+version.VERSION,point(S),2S);
</asy>

created the picture

And on the AoPS forums you can use [asy]..[/asy]

Another example:

[asy]
pair A,B,C,X,Y,Z; 
A = (0,0);
B = (1,0);
C = (0.3,0.8);
draw(A--B--C--A);
X = (B+C)/2;
Y = (A+C)/2;
Z = (A+B)/2;
draw(A--X, red);
draw(B--Y,red);
draw(C--Z,red);
[/asy]

See also

• LaTeX
• AoPS's Getting Started with LaTeX guide
• http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/community/c68_latex_and_asymptote Asymptote Forum on AoPS

Next: Getting Started