Re: Graphing Functions
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg27277] Re: Graphing Functions
- From: bghiggins at ucdavis.edu (Brian Higgins)
- Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 03:58:26 -0500 (EST)
- Organization: The Math Forum
- References: <96asca$6f6@smc.vnet.net>
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
Type in these variations after you have openend a new notebook:
Plot[x^3-3x,{x,0,3}]
or
f=x^3-3x
Plot[f,{x,0,3}]
or
f1[x]=x^3-3x
Plot[f1[x],{x,0,3}]
or
f2[x_]=x^3-3x
Plot[f2[x],{x,0,3}]
Now try the following
Plot[f2[t],{t,0,3}]
Plot[f1[t],{t,0,3}]
Plot[f[x],{x,0,3}]
Plot[f(x),{x,0,3}]
In the last four statement, the first will work , but the the others
will produce errors. To understand what is going on try to read the
Wolfram Book on defining functions and and use of patterns. There is
also the possibility of using delayed assignments for your definitions
of functions (f4[x_]:=x^3-3x) which I have not mentioned.
Hang in, the learning hill is somewaht steep initially, but once you
get to the top the view of possibilities is spectacular!
Brian