How to Graph 3D Points in Grapher on a Mac

You can make three-dimensional graphs of equations on your Mac.

If you need to graph equations that work in three dimensions, you can use Grapher on your Mac. Apple installs the free Grapher utility on every recent Mac. Grapher allows you to graph equations and visualize the results in 2D and 3D.

Instructions

1. Click "Applications" on the Dock of your Mac, then click "Utilities," and click "Grapher" to launch Apple's native graphing application.

2. Click "File" from the Grapher menu, and then click "New." The New Graph dialog box appears.

3. Click the "3D Graph" tab.

4. Click a graph type from the panel on the left, such as "Frame" or "Black and White," and then click "Choose."

5. Click "Equation" from the Grapher menu, and then click "New Point Set." A group of points appears in the 3D graph. Click "Edit Points" at the top of the Grapher window.

6. Click the "Coordinates" tab. Click the "System" pull-down menu, and then click an option, such as "Cartesian System."

7. Click the number "Up/Down" arrow next to the letter representing each of the three dimensions to edit where the 3D points appear. For example, click the "X" number arrow to "2," click the "Y" number arrow to "3" and click the "Z" number arrow to "1" to change the points' location in three dimensional space, and then click "OK."

References

• Apple: Mac OS X 10.6 Help: About Grapher