Start GraphFunc
(Java Runtime Environment required)

The GraphFunc tool (beta version) is a program online that is used to plot the graph of mathematical functions in two or three coordinate systems and help exploring several topics in calculus.  It has the following features:

 

 

How to use GraphFunc tool

Use "Graph It!" Button To Plot A Graph
    Enter a function f(x) in the text input (or command line) marked “f(x) = ”.  Then click the Graph It! button to draw the graph in 2D Cartesian coordinates (by default).  The graph can be moved or dragged to any positions.  Always click the "Graph It!" button each time a new or modified expression is given in order to have it effective before using other buttons.

Cartesian, Polar or Parametric Coordinates Mode (see demo)
    The option under the Cartesian dropdown list box helps User to plot the function(s) in Polar or Parametric coordinates.   Use x as the input variable of f(x) in two-dimensional Cartesian coordinates, and x, y as the variables of z = f(x, y) in three-dimensional Cartesian coordinates.  For the Polar and Parametric co-ordinates, t is used as the input variable of f(t).

Single/Multiple Graph - Plot Multiple Graphs Synchrnous
    Want to plot two or more graphs synchronous.  Need to switch to Multiple Graph mode by selecting the Multiple Graph item from the Single Graph drop-down list box.  After switching to Multiple Graph mode, a list of the text inputs is displayed.  Enter any functions in the text inputs and click the Graph It button to see its graphs.  A current active function is indicated by a red indicator marked on f1(x) = , f2(x) = , ...or f5(x) =.  To turn a function to be an active, click on either a text field or its function label.  For example, if there are five functions entered in text fields and the user wants to compute the area under the curve f3(x). First, click on the text field marked "f3(x) = " to make sure the red indictor is displayed.  Second, provide the values of the lower and upper bounds then click the Find Area button to get the result.  The behavior of this example can be applied to other computing functionalies such as volume, tangent, extremum, x-intercepts, and derivatives.

Calc Buttons - Compute f and Its First & Second Derivative at a Given Point
    The values of f(x1), f '(x1) (first derivative) and f "(x1) (second derivative) at a given point x1 can be computed by clicking on the Calc button in Cartesian coordinates.  These values can be also determined when clicking with the mouse at any points on the graph.   This feature is applied to the Polar and Parametric coordinates in which its variable is denoted "t".   When in either Polar or Parametric coordinates mode, there are two Calc buttons: one is used for compution in terms of variable t; the other is used for computation in terms of variable x.

Area Button - Compute Area Under A Curve (see demo )
    The area under a graph in 2D (not 3D) Cartesian coordinates is computed by clicking on the Find Area button right after the values of the lower bound From and upper bound To are provided.

Length Button (see demo)
    To compute the length of the arc of f(x) between two points along a curve, enter the limit values for "From" and "To" on its text fields, then click the Find Length button.

Maxima or Minima (Extremum)
    To find a local maxima or minima of function f(x), select the Extremum item from the Functions drop-down list box.  Then click on the graph at any points near to the vertices.  If a maxima or a minima value is found when clicked, it shows the results onto the text field at the label marked x = and f(x) = .

X-Intercept
    To find the x-intercepts where f(x) or y = 0, choose the X-intercept item from the Functions dropdown list box.  Click on the graph at some points where f(x) nearly crosses the x-axis.  If a value of x as f(x) approaches to 0 is found, its result is displayed on the labels marked x = and f(x) =.  This option also implies to find the roots of the equation f(x) = 0.

Tangent/Normal
    To find the tangent or normal line to f(x) at a given point x, click the Tangent button to display the Add Tangent/Normal dialog.  Enter a value of x and then click the OK button.  In addition, the dynamic tangent line is shown while clicking on the graph or dragging it along the horizontal x-axis.

Sum Series
    GraphFunc has a capability of computing the sum of a series up to nth terms.  To use this functionality, select the Sum Series item from the Functions dropdown list, and the Numerical Computation of Series dialog is displayed.  From this popup dialog enter a series expression, the values of Start, End and in steps of.  Click the Compute Sum button.

System of Linear Equations
    Want to solve a System of Linear Equations with n equations and n unknowns.  Select the Linear Equations item from the Functions dropdown list, a window with four equations and four unknowns (by default) is displayed.  From this window enter the coefficient values of equations in the text fields then click the Solve button.

View 2D
    The View 2D dropdown list box is used to switch the graph(s) from 2D to 3D or vice versa.  The graph(s) can be plotted in Cartesian, Polar or Parametric coordinates by selecting an item under Cartesian dropdown list box.  Currently, GraphFunc supports two variables x and y as variables of function z = f(x,y) in three-dimensional Cartesian coordinates.  For other coordinates, use "t" as the input variable of Polar function r(t) or Parametric functions x(t), y(t).

View 3D
    Select the View 3D mode, it displays a 3D graph in the three dimensional coordinates in which its motion by default is shown.  Click the Motion checkbox to turn it on or off.

Volume or Surface Area Button
    Select the x-axis item from the Rotation dropdown list box to rotate the graph around the x-axis.  Enter the values of lower bound From and upper bound To.  Click the Volume or Surface Area button.

Gamma Computation - Compute a Value of Gamma Function
    Select Gamma Function item from Math Utilities menu.  Enter a value for x and then click the Gamma Computation button.
 
Zoom In / Out Button
    A graph can be zoomed in or out when clicking on the Zoom In or Zoom Out button. 

Reset Button
    Clicking on the Reset button is to clear data and reset the GraphFunc tool's configuration to its default values.

 

Some examples

Two-dimensional plotting functions

Enter f(x) =

  xsin(x)

x*sin(x)  (enter this function into command line)

 x^3 +x -1

 (x^3 + x + 4)/(x - 1)

(sin(x))^3 + cos(x)

 

 

Three-dimensional plotting functions

Enter f(x,y) =

  z = f(x,y) = sin(x+y)

 sin(x+y)

 x^2 + y^2  - 3

 exp(x) + sin(y)  or e^x + sin(y)

 

 

Polar Graphs (2D)

Select the Polar item from the Cartesian dropdown listbox, then enter

6/(6 - 5*sin(t))  

-sin(5*t)

(Butterfly Curve)

e^(cos(t)) - 2*cos(4*t) + sin(t/12)^5

 

 

Parametric Graphs  (3D)

Select the Parametric item from the Cartesian dropdown list, then enter

sin(t) + 2*cos(t)      (into the text field with label marked f1(t) = )
sin(2*t)                   (into the text field with label marked f2(t) = )          

cos(t)
sin(t)

 

(More functions and examples...)

Now choose a function and use GraphFunc tool as shown above or click here to graph it.


Notes
When you access this website or click on a GraphFunc hyperlink in this page, the GraphFunc tool (applet) will be automatically displayed in the popup window.  If your browser does not display GraphFunc, check whether you need to download JRE (Java Runtime Environment) from Sun or setup your browser security in secure default configuration. 

Try the new GraphFunc version if your computer has JRE 1.5x or 1.6x.

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Thank you for using GraphFunc online.  Any suggestions and comments are welcome to sms@seriesmathstudy.com .

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