Support function

In mathematics, for an oriented regular surface, M, with a unit normal vector, N, defined everywhere on its surface, the support function $h:Mto\; mathbb\{R\}$ is defined by

$h(mathbf\{x\})=mathbf\{x\}cdot\; N(mathbf\{x\})quadforall\; mathbf\{x\}$ on the perimeter of M.

In other words, the support function of a set is an alternate representation of the set in terms of the position of all tangent planes that enclose the set. That is, $mathbf\{x\}cdot\; N(mathbf\{x\})$ defines a plane that intersects x with a normal N.

External links

• MathWorld on Support Function