Techlab 1.1

Instructions
If you haven't already done so, click the link above to the MIC automatic grapher, to open a window that contains the grapher. In this Activity, you will switch between this page and the grapher, by minimising and maximising the grapher window. Follow the instructions below.

• Drawing the graph of an equation
  To graph the function f(x) = 2x+1
  
  1. Type "2*x+1" into the f(x)= box. Notice that the symbol for multiplication "*" must be typed in.
  2. Ensure that the rad button at top right is active (the deg button is only used when graphing trigonometric functions that are in degrees).
  3. Set the window size by changing the values for the axes in the boxes at top of screen. To reset the window to the original settings, click Reset Window.
  4. Click the checkbox at the immediate right of the function box. A tick should appear. Only equations that are ticked will be graphed.
  5. Finally, to draw the graph (in red) of the equation f(x) = 2x+1, click Graph. Up to four graphs can be drawn at any one time. Each equation and matching graph has a different colour.
  6. If you point the mouse at a region of the graph, the coordinates that the arrow points to are displayed.
  7. To zoom in on a region, point the mouse at the coordinate and left-click, then press the key 'F10'. To reset click Reset Window.

• Built-in symbols and functions
  
  The automatic grapher supports the following operations:
  + addition
  - subtraction
  * multiplication
  / division
  ^ exponentiation
  ( open parenthesis
  ) closed parenthesis
  and the following symbols:
  x the function variable
  pi the constant pi
  e Euler's number
  and the following functions: (the brackets are essential)
  sin(x)
  cos(x)
  tan(x)
  abs(x) absolute value
  log(x) the logarithm to base 10
  ln(x) the natural logarithm (to base e)