My Math Forum Graph Calculators (Graphs)

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 November 11th, 2014, 10:58 AM #1 Member   Joined: Sep 2014 From: Sweden Posts: 94 Thanks: 0 Graph Calculators (Graphs) Can someone explain to me with really really really easy words and instructions how these graphs can be like this on a graph calculator? Type in this and see yourself: A: x^2 B: x^3 C: x^4 Graph Calculator: https://www.desmos.com/calculator
November 11th, 2014, 11:23 AM   #2
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start in upper left corner, first box ...

type y= ... hit the x key ... hit the $\displaystyle a^2$ key ... you should now have $\displaystyle y = x^2$ graphed ... hit return

type y= ... hit the x key ... hit the $\displaystyle a^b$ key ... hit the 3 key ... you should now have $\displaystyle y = x^3$ graphed ... hit return

do the same for $\displaystyle y = x^4$, except hit the 4 key instead of the 3 key
Attached Images
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 November 11th, 2014, 11:59 AM #3 Member   Joined: Sep 2014 From: Sweden Posts: 94 Thanks: 0 I didn't ask for instructions of how to type into the calculator. That part is clear. I asked for an explaination of how the graphs are drawn like they are? It seem so random. I want someone who can explain why it must be like that. Thanks.
 November 11th, 2014, 12:36 PM #4 Math Team     Joined: Jul 2011 From: Texas Posts: 2,947 Thanks: 1555 Sorry I misunderstood. Have you ever graphed functions on grid paper (by hand, no calculator) ? Last edited by skeeter; November 11th, 2014 at 01:03 PM.
 November 12th, 2014, 12:25 PM #5 Member   Joined: Sep 2014 From: Sweden Posts: 94 Thanks: 0 Yeah, that's exactly what we learned at math in school (Math 1C). So yeah, I have drawn lines using a table of values with x, y. Some graphs are clear and understandable and I understand the logic of them. But some graphs, like these I wrote, seem to be drawn random? I don't get how it can be like that? I played a bit with graphs and realised that x^2 is like a curve. It comes down and back up. x^3 goes from where it is (-x, -y) and up to (x, y) and makes a turn where it hits the y axis. Last edited by skipjack; November 13th, 2014 at 12:15 AM.
 November 12th, 2014, 01:07 PM #6 Math Team     Joined: Jul 2011 From: Texas Posts: 2,947 Thanks: 1555 If you graph the even-powered basic polynomial functions, i.e. y = x^2, y = x^4, y = x^6, etc. you'll see how they are all related. Do the same for the odd powers ... y = x^3, y = x^5, y = x^7 this should show you they are not just random curves. Last edited by skipjack; November 13th, 2014 at 12:15 AM.

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