Math C -- Lab 1: Graphing with Graphmatica (Mr. Power) NAME _______________________
1. Graphmatica is available in the Math Lab. Or, if you wish, you can get the program on-line and do the lab at home (try a Google search for Graphmatica).
2. Check in at the desk. You will need your Student Body Card.
3. Select a computer to work at.
4. On your machine, select the Graphmatica icon on the menu. It looks something like this:
(Move the cursor to the icon and double-click. Or, click once with the mouse and then press ENTER).
5. You should see a screen that looks like this:
6. Type each equation you want to graph in the entry window, pressing the ENTER key after each equation is done. All the graphs will appear on the same screen. If you make a mistake and need to remove the last graph from the display, select Edit ... Delete Graph from the menu bar.
7. Pay attention to the graphs as you work, and answer the questions on this worksheet
8. To type your name on the graph, Select Edit ... Annotations, type your name, select Place, and click somewhere along the top edge of your graph.
9. When you are finished with each set of graphs, select File ... Print, and before checking OK, check "Black and white only" and "Print equation list." Then select OK to print your graphs.
10. Before graphing the next set of equations, clear all the old equations from the screen by selecting Edit ... Delete All Graphs.
ASSIGNMENT
1. Equation set 1.
a. Graph the following equations:
(1) y = 0.2(x-1) -2
(2) y = 0.5(x-1) -2
(3) y = 2(x-1) -2
b. What part of the equation is changing? (choose one) ____________
(1) Coefficient (a coefficient multiplies a variable or a parenthesis containing a variable)
(2) Constant inside parenthesis with x (constants do not multiply variables)
(3) Constant outside parenthesis (constants do not multiply variables)
c. What about the graph is changing? (choose one) ____________
(1) Shape or slope
(2) Vertical position (height)
(3) Horizontal position
d. Does the slope of the graph increase or decrease when the coefficient of x increases? ________
2. Equation set 2:
a. Graph the following equations: Note: this is the absolute value function
(1) y = 2abs(x-2) +1
(2) y = 2abs(x+1) +1
(3) y = 2abs(x+2) +1
b. What part of the equation is changing? (choose one) ____________
(1) Coefficient
(2) Constant inside parenthesis with x
(3) Constant outside parenthesis with x
c. What about the graph is changing? (choose one) ____________
(1) Shape or slope
(2) Vertical position (height)
(3) Horizontal position
d. Which direction does the graph move when the constant in the parenthesis with x increases? (up, down, right, or left?) ____________________
3. Equation set 3:
a. Graph the following equations: Note the technique for typing an exponent.
(1) y = 0.5(x+1)^2 - 4
(2) y = 0.5(x+1)^2 - 1
(3) y = 0.5(x+1)^2 +3
b. What part of the equation is changing? (choose one) ____________
(1) Coefficient
(2) Constant inside parenthesis with x
(3) Constant outside parenthesis with x
c. What about the graph is changing? (choose one) ____________
(1) Shape or slope
(2) Vertical position (height)
(3) Horizontal position
d. Which direction does the graph move when the constant outside the parenthesis increases? (up, down, right, or left?) ____________________
4. Compare of equation sets 1, 2, and 3 above to answer the following questions:
a. What part of the equation affects the shape or slope of the graph? _________
(1) Coefficient
(2) Constant inside parenthesis with x
(3) Constant outside parenthesis with x
b. What in the equation affects the vertical position of the graph? ________
(1) Coefficient
(2) Constant inside parenthesis with x
(3) Constant outside parenthesis with x
c. What in the equation affects the horizontal position of the graph? _________
(1) Coefficient
(2) Constant inside parenthesis with x
(3) Constant outside parenthesis with x
5. Equation set 4:
a. Graph the following equations: (Notice the technique for typing a square root function).
(1) y = sqrt(x)
(2) y = sqrt(-x)
What was the effect of reversing the sign of x? __________________________________
(3) -y = sqrt(x)
What was the effect of reversing the sign of y? __________________________________
Return to: Merced College; Don Power Updated 01/23/08 by Don Power