How to Use Graphing Calculators

Graph different types of charts with just one graphing calculator.

A graphing calculator helps students be more productive. Students who are familiar with the capabilities of online and desktop graphing calculators are able to create graphs much quicker than those that use paper and pencil. Many online graphing calculators allow you to print and save your graphs. A graphing calculator requires that you select the type of graph you need, enter proper equation or data syntax and know the features of your calculator.

Instructions

1. Examine the different graphing options of the graphing calculator. Look for graphing options such as mathematical functions, line graphs, bar graphs, scatter plots, 2D function graphing and 3D function graphing. Experiment with plotting different types of graphs and using different options specific graphs offer.

2. Locate the parameters that set the scale of the graph's axes if the calculator doesn't support automatic scaling. Look for buttons, keys or menus that are labeled window, min, max, xmin, xmax, ymin, or ymax. Practice entering the maximum and minimum values you want to appear on the graph's x-axis and y-axis and examining the resulting graph.

3. Determine the parameters that set the increment intervals of the graph's x and y-axes if the calculator you are using does not use automatic scaling. Look for buttons, keys or menus labeled xdelta, ydelta, xinc and yinc. Enter in the value of the distance between x-axis division lines in the text box that is used to specify the x-axis divisions. Repeat for the y-axis. Change them to different values to see how it affects the scaling.

4. Examine the different formatting options. Look for graphing formatting options used to place a title on the graph, set the minimum and maximum values for the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the graph and set the scaling of the graph's axis. Select the menu options displayed on the screen for online graphing calculators. Use the key sequences on your keyboard and menu options on your screen if you are using a desktop calculator.

5. Examine the different graphing calculator options for printing, saving, emailing and linking the graph you create. Select the required buttons and enter in required entries to save, print, email and link your graph.

Tips & Warnings

• Many online graphing calculators have automatic scaling built in, so you don't have to readjust the x-axis and y-axis scaling and increment parameters.

• Desktop graphing calculators often require that you learn key and screen menu sequences to graph effectively.

References

• Mathbits: Using the Graphing Calculator, Mathbits; 2000-2011
• How To Use the Basic Functions of a Graphing Calculator; Howcast; July 2011

Resources

• FooPlot: Online Graphing Calculator and Function Plotter
• KidsZone: Create a Graph