Saturday 16 June, 2007

Using Graph 4.2

I am using the open source tool Graph 4.2 for teaching plotting graphs and analysing them further. This is a very useful tool. With the help of this tool we are able to plot the functions on a coordinate plane in very less time and are able to analyse various plottings on the same graph by making small changes in the functions.
Example 1


  • Ask the students to plot the equations y=2, y=5, y=-3 and y=-5 simultaneously using this tool.
  • The following graph will be obtained.


















  • It is clear from the graph that all these lines are parallel to the x-axis.
  • The students will observe this fact themselves and they will note down the observation that the general equation of a line parallel to x- axis is y=+k or y=-k where k is any real number.

Example 2

  • Ask the students to plot the graph of x=2, x=6 and x=-3 using the tool.
  • The following graph will be obtained.

  • It is clear from the graph that all these lines are parallel to the y- axis.
  • The students will observe that the equation of a line parallel to the y-axis is x=+k or x=-k, where k is any real number.

The best part of this tool is we can plot y=0.5, y=-6.7, x=7.9 etc equations which otherwise in a classroom are not usually done.

Example 3

  • Plotting linear inequalities in one variable x>2, x<5,>4 etc



















  • Plotting linear inequations in two variables 2x+3y>6 etc.



















  • Like this we can plan various graph excercises for the students.

    Your suggestions are welcome. Add a comment.

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