graphingcalculatorsandcomputers-UTPAFacultyWeb.pptVIP

In this section, we assume that you have access to a graphing calculator or a computer with graphing software. In this section, we: Will see that the use of a graphing device enables us to graph more complicated functions and to solve more complex problems than would otherwise be possible. Point out some of the pitfalls that can occur with these machines. Graphing calculators and computers can give very accurate graphs of functions. However, we will see in Chapter 4 that, only through the use of calculus, can we be sure that we have uncovered all the interesting aspects of a graph. A graphing calculator or computer displays a rectangular portion of the graph of a function in a display window or viewing screen. This is referred to as a viewing rectangle. The default screen often gives an incomplete or misleading picture. So, it is important to choose the viewing rectangle with care. If we choose the x-values to range from a minimum value of Xmin = a to a maximum value of Xmax = b and the y-values to range from a minimum of Ymin = c to a maximum of Ymax = d, then the visible portion of the graph lies in the rectangle The rectangle is shown in the figure. We refer to this rectangle as the [a, b] by [c, d] viewing rectangle. The machine draws the graph of a function f much as you would. It plots points of the form (x, f(x)) for a certain number of equally spaced values of x between a and b. If an x-value is not in the domain of f, or if f(x) lies outside the viewing rectangle, it moves on to the next x-value. The machine connects each point to the preceding plotted point to form a representation of the graph of f. Draw the graph of the function f(x) = x2 + 3 in each of these viewing rectangles. [-2, 2] by [-2, 2] [-4, 4] by [-4, 4] [-10, 10] by [-5, 30] [-50, 50] by [-100, 1000] We select the range by setting Xmin = -2, Xmax = 2,Ymin = -2 and Ymax = 2. The resulting graph is shown. The display window is blank. A moment’s thought provides th