Suppose we have two sets of parametric equations $\mathbf c_1(u) = (x_1(u), y_1(u))$ and $\mathbf c_2(v) = (x_2(v), y_2(v))$ representing two 2D planar curves. When I say "2D planar curves" I mean that $\mathbf c_1(u)$ and $\mathbf c_2(u)$ are mappings from compact intervals in $\mathbb R$ to $\mathbb R^2$. We can assume (without loss of generality, I think) that $\mathbf c_1:I \to \mathbb R^2$ and $\mathbf c_2:I \to \mathbb R^2$, where $I=[0,1]$. You can assume some continuity or differentiability of
$\mathbf c_1(u)$ and $\mathbf c_2(u)$, if that helps.
I'm interested to know how we can determine that these two sets of equations represent the same curve. In other words, how can I determine that $\mathbf c_1(I)$ and $\mathbf c_2(I)$ are the same point set.
An interesting special case: what if the parametric equations are all rational functions? In this case, it's often possible to implicitize — i.e. convert to equations of the form $f_1(x,y)=0$ and $f_2(x,y)=0$. Then, if the two curves are the same point set, I would guess that something can be said about $f_1$ and $f_2$? Maybe one is a multiple of the other, or something like that??
Even simpler (but still interesting): what if all the functions involved are polynomials.
The implicitization doesn't necessarily solve the original problem, though. It's clear that $\mathbf c_1(I)$ is a subset of the zero set $Z_1 = \{(x,y) \in \mathbb R^2 : f_1(x,y) = 0\}$, but it might be a proper subset. So, even if we know how to relate $Z_1$ and $Z_2$, this might not tell us much about how $\mathbf c_1(I)$ is related to $\mathbf c_2(I)$. Can we say anything about when the implicitization approach will work and when it won't?
My question was inspired by this one.
There might be some connection with this question, but both the question and the answer are written in jargon that's not familiar to me.
This has practical applications — curves in engineering and manufacturing are often described by using rational or polynomial parameterizations, and it would be nice if we had some way to identify when two curves are the same. In engineering & manufacturing, we only care about the shapes of curves (i.e. sets like $\mathbf c_1(I)$ and $\mathbf c_2(I)$), not their parameterization. For example, a circular wheel is still circular, regardless of how the circle curve is parameterized. The parameterization is artificial, in some sense, and I want to be able to ignore its effects when comparing two curves.
In case it matters to anyone, this isn't homework :-).
Example (for the rational case)
$$\mathbf c_1(t) = \left( \frac{1 – (2 – \sqrt2)t – (\sqrt2 – 1)t^2}
{1 – (2 – \sqrt2)t + (2 – \sqrt2)t^2},
\frac{\sqrt2 t – (\sqrt2 – 1)t^2}
{1 – (2 – \sqrt2)t + (2 – \sqrt2)t^2} \right)$$
$$\mathbf c_2(t) = \left( \frac{1 -t^2}{1 + t^2},
\frac{2t} {1 + t^2} \right)$$
Here $\mathbf c_1(I) = \mathbf c_2(I)$. They are both the first quadrant of the unit circle, actually.
Progress (December 2017)
Apparently, if two two implicit equations $f_1(x,y)=0$ and $f_2(x,y)=0$ represent the same curve, and $f_1$ and $f_2$ are both irreducible polynomials, then one must be a constant multiple of the other. This result is mentioned (without proof) in this paper by Sendra, so I suppose it must be well-known.
Best Answer
Consider the simpler problem of two parametrized curves $(x_i(t),y_i(t))$ that start at $(0,0)$ at time $t=0$, and equality of trajectories up to reparametrization, which is stronger than equality of point sets and a more natural condition as it is local (up to matching of starting points). Heuristically, and to some extent rigorously, there is a usable criterion.
We want that when $x_1 = x_2$, then $y_1 = y_2$ so that the bivariate function $x_1(t)-x_2(s)$ divides $y_1(t)-y_2(s)$ (and vice versa) in a suitable ring of functions. Their ratio is an invertible function with positive values, at least for nonzero $s,t$ near $0$. In fact we need it to be positive only for nonzero $(s,t)$ at which $x_1(s)=x_2(t)$ or the same for $y$.
Example: parabola and half-parabola.
Curve A is $(t,t^2)$.
Curve B is $(s^2,s^4)$.
$x_1(t)-x_2(s) = t - s^2$
$y_1(t)-y_2(s) = t^2 - s^4$
Ratio is $(t + s^2)$
This is positive near the locus where $x_1(t)=x_2(s)$ (namely $t=s^2$). On the locus where $y_1(t)=y_2(s)$ (namely $t^2=s^4$), this is positive for $t>0$ and negative for $t < 0$. The positivity condition knows which half of the parabola is curve B! That is a good sign that this is either the complete answer to the simplified problem, or on the right track.
Finding an intersection point of two parametric curves OR detecting a difference between the curves is simpler than the general problem of curve intersection. Take a point on one curve, solve for the parameter values that would place its $x$ coordinate on the other curve, and test whether the $y$ coordinates are the same. For algebraic parameterizations this calculation can be done exactly.
For the point-set equality problem, locate the zeros of the $st$ ratio. These parameter values segment the two curves into arcs. Then there is a combinatorial problem of orienting and matching (by the procedure given above) identical arcs of the two curves, and testing whether both curves are covered by the matched arcs.