Zernike polynomials

Imagine you have a big round pizza. But instead of just cutting it into slices, we want to describe the way it looks using a special code of different shapes called zernike polynomials.

Each zernike polynomial is a different shape, like a star, a blob, or a petal. We can use these shapes to describe how the pizza looks, even if it’s a little lumpy or bumpy.

Scientists and mathematicians use zernike polynomials to describe things like how light shines through lenses or how shapes change when they’re distorted. By using these special shapes, they can figure out exactly what’s going on and make things work better.

So next time you have a pizza, think about how zernike polynomials can help us describe its shape in a special way.