DefinitionCurve sketching is a method in calculus and analytical geometry that entails examining the behavior of a function to draw its graph in a precise manner. It makes you work out which correspond to the domain, range, intercepts, symmetries and asymptotes, critical points of the function (not what the function is, mind you, just information about that function) and sketch it simply from that. Use curve sketching to graphically display when and where (on the graph of the function) functions behave in a particular manner, like having maxima and minima, or inflection points. It is a graph representation of functions for the purpose of analysis and interpretation. For instance, given a rational function, it is typical to search for vertical and horizontal asymptotes, intercepts, and intervals on which it is increasing or decreasing, and graph and connect the dots thus found by hand.