ABSTRACT
This chapter provides some basic concepts that occur in a computer graphics sys-tem. Some of these concepts are mathematical in nature. I am assuming that you are familiar with trigonometry, vector and matrix algebra, and dot products and cross products. A warning to those who have a significant mathematical background: I intentionally discuss the mathematical concepts in a somewhat informal manner. My goal is to present the relevant ideas without getting tied down in the minutiae of stating rigorous definitions for the concepts. The first edition of this book was criticized for overemphasizing the mathematical details-and rightly so. Learn computer graphics first, and then later explore the beauty of formal mathematical exposition!
