Introduction to Winplot

Richland College Spring 2012

John Ganci
[email protected]
 Presentation Outline
• What is Winplot?
• Obtaining and installing Winplot
• Learning about Winplot
• Drawing 2-dimensional graphs
• Drawing 3-dimensional graphs
• Copying Winplot graphs into other applications
• Sources of documentation
• Summary
• Appendix
2
 What is Winplot?
• A Windows application that draws graphs
– 2-dimensional curves
– 3-dimensional curves and surfaces
• A lot more than a graphing calculator
• A tool to illustrate mathematical concepts
– Slopes of lines, areas, volumes, vectors, to name a few
– Animation allows one to show values as they change
• Best of all, it’s free!
– The author is a faculty member at Phillips Exeter Academy

3
 Obtaining and Installing Winplot
• http://math.exeter.edu/rparris/winplot.html
• Download the self-extracting zip file wp32z.exe
• Run the program
– The default installation directory is c:\peanut
– Recommend that you change it to something else
– Resulting unzipped file is winplot.exe
• The next few slides show parts of this process

4
 Obtaining Winplot

Download
link

Lots of
good info!

5
 Installing Winplot
• Run the self-extracting zip file wp32z.exe

Recommend
that you
change this

6
 Learning About Winplot
• Search the web for “winplot tutorial”

These two are

very good

7
 Learning About Winplot
• Supplemental materials on Winplot home page

8
 Learning About Winplot
• Al Lehnen’s home page; good stuff!!; scroll down

9
 Learning About Winplot

Tutorial
and
examples

Tutorial
10
 Learning About Winplot
Tutorial,
examples,
links, and a
Power Point
Introduction
to Winplot

11
 Using Winplot
• Enough about learning!
• It’s time to fire up Winplot and take it out for a spin
• 2-dimensional graphs
– Draw some simple ones
– Show the various ways to draw graphs
– Show how to show and see additional data about them
• Adding labels
• Viewing table of values
• 3-dimensional graphs
• Copying Winplot data to other applications
• Okay, start Winplot

12
 Winplot Initial Screen
• Close tip box
• Resize the Winplot screen the first time you invoke it

13
 Winplot Initial Screen
• Everything is accessed via the Window menu item
• Next slide shows the two menu items

14
 Winplot Initial Screen
• Note Window values; we’ll start with 2-dim
• Recommend checking Use defaults

15
 2-dimensional Initial Screen
• Before we graph anything we’ll add grid lines; click View

16
 Adding Grid Lines …
• Click Grid

17
 … Adding Grid Lines
• Dialog box appears
• Axes is checked, as is both, so the x- and y-axes are shown
• Ticks, arrows, and labels are checked
• In the grid sub-box
– Check rectangular … then check dotted

– Then Apply, Close

18
• We’ll look at polar a little later
 2-dimensional Plotting
• Now we want to plot something (an equation); click Equa

19
 2-dimensional Plotting
• Note values; we’ll do 1-4; click Explicit …

20
 2-dimensional Plotting
• Dialog box appears
• Set the f(x)= value to 2*x+1
• Leave the low and high x values at -5 and 5
• Click color to select a color for the graph

21
 2-dimensional Plotting
• Click on one of the colored squares (blue); then click Close

22
 2-dimensional Plotting
• Back to the equation dialog box
• Change pen width for thicker line
• Click ok

23
 2-dimensional Plotting
• A graph is displayed along with an inventory box
• If you want to change the color or line thickness, click Edit
• Click View

24
 2-dimensional Plotting
• We’ve already looked at Grid; note values; click View …

25
 2-dimensional Plotting
• Here’s how you can set the displayed bounds of the graph
• Click “set corners” to set the x and y bounds
• Click “set center” to set the center point and width

26
 2-dimensional Plotting
• Next we will draw a graph several different ways
• First we delete the current graph so that we begin “fresh”
• The first graph will again use Explicit
• We enter sqrt(16-x^2) for the function
• We take the default range, [-5,5], for x (wrong, but ok)
• We choose a color and click ok

27
 2-dimensional Plotting
• A graph is displayed along with an inventory box
• We want the other half of the semicircle; click dupl(icate)

28
 2-dimensional Plotting
• Another explicit equation dialog box
• Enter minus sign to the left of sqrt(16-x^2); click ok

29
 2-dimensional Plotting
• Now have entire circle; note the two items in the inventory

30
 2-dimensional Plotting: Parametric
• Graph using parametric equations; click Equa, then Parametric

31
 2-dimensional Plotting: Parametric
• The equation dialog box for parametric is displayed
• This time two functions must be entered; x=f(t), y=g(t)
• Enter 3cos(t) for f(t) and 3sin(t) for g(t)
• Note that t ranges from 0 to 1
• Change high t to 2pi
• As before, click color; click a color; click close; click ok

f(t)=3cos(t)
g(t)=3sin(t)

2pi

32
 2-dimensional Plotting: Parametric
• Note the new graph and the new inventory entry

33
 2-dimensional Plotting: Implicit
• Next is implicit; click Equa; click Implicit …

34
 2-dimensional Plotting: Implicit
• Another equation dialog box, but for implicit
• Fill in x^2+y^2 = 4 (or xx+yy=4)
• Choose a color; click ok

x^2+y^2=4

35
 2-dimensional Plotting: Implicit
• Note the new graph and the new inventory entry

36
 2-dimensional Plotting: Polar
• Lastly we graph a polar equation; click Equa; click Polar …

37
 2-dimensional Plotting: Polar
• The equation dialog box for polar is displayed
• The t value is theta; f(t) is the r value; that is, r=f(t)
• Enter 1 for the f(t) value
• Note that the t values range from 0 to 2pi
• Choose a color; click ok

38
 2-dimensional Plotting: Polar
• Note the fourth graph and the fourth inventory entry

39
 2-dimensional Plotting: Table
• Let’s look at the table of values for a few of the equations
• All tables are accessed via the inventory button “table”
• Highlight the inventory entry then click table
• Each is shown on the following slides (no table for implicit)
• Close the table by clicking Close

40
 2-dimensional Plotting: Table
• y=sqrt(16-x^2); note undefined values; click Close when done

41
 2-dimensional Plotting: Table
• Table for parametric equations x=3cos(t), y=3sin(t)

42
 2-dimensional Plotting: Table
• Table for polar equation r=1

43
 2-dimensional Plotting: Polar, Part 2

• We now graph a cardioid

• Start with a clean 2-dim screen
• We enter the polar equation r = 2 + 3 sin θ
• Add grid lines, but use a polar grid
• The next slide shows Winplot after Equa->Polar

44
 2-dimensional Plotting: Polar, Part 2
• Note: t instead of θ; t ranges from 0 to 2pi
• Change pen width to 2; choose a color
• Click ok

45
 2-dimensional Plotting: Polar, Part 2
• Zoom out: PgDn a few times; then View->Grid…

46
 2-dimensional Plotting: Polar, Part 2
• Click polar (axis); polar sectors; 24; apply; close

47
 2-dimensional Plotting: Polar, Part 2
• Polar graph paper!

48
2-dimensional Plotting: Calculus I
• The next example illustrates how an integral
is approximated using Riemann sums
• The approximating rectangles are shown
• The number of rectangles can be changed
• The example also illustrates how to graph the
antiderivative and add explanatory text
• Start with a new 2-dim screen
• Begin by entering y=x^2 on Equa->Explicit

49
2-dimensional Plotting: Calculus I
• One->Measurement->Integrate

50
 2-dimensional Plotting: Calculus I
• Set lower limit to 1, upper limit to 2
• Set subintervals to 5
• Check left endpoint; check overlay; choose a color
• Click definite

51
 2-dimensional Plotting: Calculus I
• Note new rectangles and new approximate value
• Click indefinite

52
 2-dimensional Plotting: Calculus I
• Note new graph and new inventory entry
• Highlight new inventory entry; click edit

53
 2-dimensional Plotting: Calculus I
• Note that the f(x) value cannot be edited
• Change the color; click ok

54
 2-dimensional Plotting: Calculus I
• Not bad! Let’s add a few descriptive labels
• First close the two dialog boxes by clicking close

55
 2-dimensional Plotting: Calculus I
• Click Btns; note values; highlight or click Text
• Position cursor to left of blue graph; right-click

56
 2-dimensional Plotting: Calculus I
• Add what text you want to display
• Change font/color; click font
• The “tie text to” radio buttons associate the text
with one of three possibilities
• If you don’t want the text to move when you
zoom in and out, check the frame button

57
 2-dimensional Plotting: Calculus I
• Change font/font style/size
• Change color of font
• Click OK; Font dialog ends; click ok; edit text dialog ends

58
 2-dimensional Plotting: Calculus I
• After adding a second label for the antiderivative
• Left-click and drag text box to fine-tune position

59
 2-dimensional Plotting: Animation
• Next we will see the power of Winplot
• We construct an example that illustrates slope
• The example is dynamic
• The dynamics are done using Winplot’s animation
• Animation is done with parameters A-W
• X, Y, and Z are reserved for functions
• We start with a clean 2-dim screen
• We add the grid lines as before
• We enter the explicit function m*x+b
• Example taken from Steve Simonds’ videos 60
2-dimensional Plotting: Animation
• The initial parameter values are all 0, so y=0

y=m*x+b = 0

61
2-dimensional Plotting: Animation
• Anim->Individual->B …
• Repeat for M

62
2-dimensional Plotting: Animation
• Note initial M and B values; then slide M right

63
2-dimensional Plotting: Animation
• Note new M and new line; slide B left (down)

64
2-dimensional Plotting: Animation
• Note new B and new line position

65
2-dimensional Plotting: Animation
• Now we have an animated line
• Next we want to illustrate slope
• Add two points to the line (P and P+ΔP)
• Add the “rise” and “run” segments
– That is, we add the “slope triangle”
• Points are added via the Equa menu item
• Segments are added the same way
• The points and segments will be animated

66
 2-dimensional Plotting: Animation
• The first point is (p,m*p+b)
• The second point is (p+d, m*(p+d)+b)
• The parameter values P and D animate the points
• Plot the points and open the animation boxes

67
2-dimensional Plotting: Animation
• Equa->Point->(x,y) …

68
2-dimensional Plotting: Animation
• Set x to p; set y to m*p+b
• Select solid
• Set dot size to 4
• Choose a color for the point
• Click ok when done

x=p
y=m*p+b

69
2-dimensional Plotting: Animation
• Note inventory; P=0, so the point is (0,B)

70
2-dimensional Plotting: Animation
• Follow the same steps to add the second point
• The x-coordinate of the point is p+d
• The y-coordinate of the point is m*(p+d)+b
• Use a different color for this point
• Finally, display the animation boxes for P and D
• Resulting graph is shown on the next slide

71
2-dimensional Plotting: Animation
• Note inventory; since D=0, the points coincide

Both points

72
2-dimensional Plotting: Animation
• Slide D to the right so points don’t coincide

(p+d, m*(p+d)+b)

(p, m*p+b)

73
2-dimensional Plotting: Animation
• Now the “rise” and “run” must be added
• The “run” is the horizontal segment joining
(p, m*p+b) to (p+d, m*p+b)
• The “rise” is the vertical segment joining
(p+d, m*p+b) to (p+d, m*(p+d)+b)
• Segments are added via Equa
• The adding of the first segment is shown on
the next few slides

74
2-dimensional Plotting: Animation
• Equa->Segment->(x,y) …

75
2-dimensional Plotting: Animation
• Dialog box for the segment is displayed
• Set x1 = p, y1 = m*p+b
• Set x2 = p+d, y2 = m*p+b
• Set pen width to 3 (thicker line segment)
• Choose a color
• Click ok
• Similar for “rise”
– x1 = p+d, y1 = m*p+b
– x2 = p+d, y2 = m*(p+d)+b

76
2-dimensional Plotting: Animation
• We have one small item to fix

77
 2-dimensional Plotting: Animation
• The “rise” and “run” terminate at the points
• Because of the colors, we can see the segments
• We must delete and add back the two points
• Use the inventory dupl button to duplicate each
point; the duplicated point appears at the bottom
of the inventory
• Use the inventory delete button to delete the
original two points

78
2-dimensional Plotting: Animation
• Note the points are now on top of the segments

79
2-dimensional Plotting: Animation
• Now “animate” several of the values
– Make M a little smaller
– Make B a little larger
– Slide P to the left (move first point down)
• Result shown on next slide

80
2-dimensional Plotting: Animation
• How about that!!!

81
2-dimensional Plotting: Calculus I
• The next 2-dimensional example is optional
• The example illustrates “epsilon-delta” for the
“limit of f(x) as x approaches a” for a
continuous function f
• Explicit and implicit shading is illustrated
• The example uses e for epsilon and d for delta
• Animation is used to independently change a,
e, and d
• Appendix A1 contains the instructions to build
the example
• The next slide shows the example
82
2-dimensional Plotting: Calculus I

83
2-dimensional Plotting: Calculus II
• The final 2-dimensional example is optional
• The example illustrates the polar equation of a
conic
• The example uses e for the eccentricity and d
for the directrix
• Animation is used to independently change e
and d
• A point on the conic is auto-animated using u
to show how the conic is drawn
• Appendix A2 contains the instructions to build
the example
• The next slide shows the example
84
2-dimensional Plotting: Calculus II

85
 3-dimensional Plotting
• Start at the Winplot main screen; click Window; click 3-dim

86
 3-dimensional Plotting
• Note similarities to 2-dim; click Equa

87
 3-dimensional Plotting
• Note similarities to 2-dim

88
 3-dimensional Plotting
• The initial two screens are similar to 2-dim
• Equa and Anim are present
• Equa has some additional values
– cylindrical and spherical
– curve
– plane
• Some 3-dim graphs produce undesirable
results; must redraw using one of the other
options
• Our first example uses Equa->Explicit to draw
a hemisphere
89
 3-dimensional Plotting
• Equa->Explicit …

90
 3-dimensional Plotting
• Note the dialog box is for a function in two
variables: z=f(x,y)
• Want to draw the upper hemisphere
• The sphere is x^2+y^2+z^2=4
• Set z=sqrt(4-x^2-y^2)
• Set x lo = -2 = y lo, x hi = 2 = y hi
• Choose a color; click ok

91
 3-dimensional Plotting
• No axes; what is the planar part?

92
 3-dimensional Plotting
• Display the axes: View->Axes->Axes

93
 3-dimensional Plotting
• The axes are shown; slightly hidden

94
 3-dimensional Plotting
• View; uncheck Hide segments

95
 3-dimensional Plotting
• Hidden lines are now visible

96
 3-dimensional Plotting
• The planar “tags” are due to what Winplot
uses for the domain of the function
• The Winplot domain is [-2,2] x [-2,2]
– Look back at the Equa->Explicit dialog box
• There are points in the Winplot domain that
are not in the actual domain
• Winplot sets z to 0 for these points
• These points make up the planar “tags”

97
 3-dimensional Plotting
• The sphere can be drawn using spherical
coordinates; ρ=2 is x^2+y^2+z^2=4
• Delete the first attempt from the inventory

98
 3-dimensional Plotting
• Equa->Spherical …

99
 3-dimensional Plotting
• The equation dialog box for spherical is
displayed
• The r value is the ρ value; enter 2 there
• The t value is the θ value; note that it ranges
from 0 to 6.28319 = 2π
• The u value is the Φ value; note that it
ranges from 0 to 3.14159 = π
• Choose a color
• Click ok

100
 3-dimensional Plotting
• Display the axes again; much better!

101
 3-dimensional Plotting
• All the quadric surfaces can be drawn
– Ellipsoid
– Elliptic paraboloid
– Hyperbolic paraboloid
– Hyperboloids with one and two sheets
• Equa->Explicit doesn’t always yield good
results
– Use parametric or cylindrical instead
• Cross-sections can be added using planes
– Animation can be used to show the level curves
• The next example shows a hyperboloid with
one sheet and its three cross-sections
102
 3-dimensional Plotting
• Note inventory; animate on B,C,D; rotate graph
Anim
Parameters A-W

103
 3-dimensional Plotting
• We next look at a space curve and its four
related vectors: r=position vector, T=unit
tangent vector, N=unit normal vector, and
B=unit binormal vector
• To make things interesting, we animate a
point, showing all the values as the point
moves along the curve
• The space curve is a variation of the “twisted
cubic”
• The animation gives visual feedback about
why it is called “twisted”
104
 3-dimensional Plotting
• An initial view of the graph; includes labels

Slide notes area

shows the inventory

105
 3-dimensional Plotting
• A final 3-dimensional graph is taken from a
problem in James Stewert’s “Calculus, Early
Transcendentals” text. It graphically shows a
3-dimensional solid bounded by several
curves and planes.
• You can use the arrow keys to rotate the solid
to see it from just about any angle.

106
 3-dimensional Plotting
• Rotate the graph to “look inside”

107
Copying Graphs to Other Applications
• As a final illustration, we show how easy it is to copy
a Winplot graph into a Word document
• We copy the 3-dimensional graph on the previous
slide into a Word document
• In Winplot click on File
• Click on Copy to clipboard (or Control-C)
• Switch to your open Word document
• Position where you want the graph
• Click Edit; Paste (or Control-V)
• That’s it! Result shown on next slide
• The only recommendation is to do any fixing up in
Winplot before doing the copy and paste
108
Copying Graphs to Other Applications

109
 Sources of Documentation
• The web
– Use your favorite search engine
• The Winplot home page Supplemental link
– Tutorials and examples in many languages
– The two highlighted ones are especially good
• The Help menu items found throughout Winplot
– While somewhat terse, there is good information there
• The tips shown when Winplot is started
– Reading through these provides lots of useful information

110
 Summary
• Winplot is a free tool used to graph functions
• Both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional graphs
• In this introduction we’ve only touched on some of the
many functions provided by Winplot
• With some thought, a lot of helpful animations can be
created to illustrate concepts to your students
• The Winplot author is very receptive to feedback and fixes
problems almost as soon as they’re reported
• Check the Winplot home page often to be sure your
version is current
– Always backup your current version before you replace it
• A special thanks to Richard Parris, the author of Winplot,
and Al Lehnen, a contributor to the Winplot supplemental
materials, for their help with my many questions
111
 Appendix
• Appendix 1 (A1) contains the 2-dimensional
“epsilon-delta” example
• Appendix 2 (A2) contains the 2-dimensional polar
conic example

112
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• The example illustrates how epsilon and delta
interact with respect to a fixed function f and
an x value of a
• The function f is defined as a user function
• Epsilon is represented by e, delta by d
• Point P (a,f(a)) is on the graph of f
• Points Q (a,0) and R (0,f(a)) are on the axes
• Dashed lines connect P to the axis points
• The epsilon and delta “bands” are shaded
• The a, e, and d values are animated
• Next slide shows the end result
113
A1: Epsilon-Delta

114
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Overview of steps follows
• Start with a new 2-dim graph
• Add the function f as a user function
• Add the a, d, and e animate dialog boxes
• Add the points P, Q, and R
• Add the dashed lines PQ and PR
• Add “band” horizontal and vertical lines
• Add shading
• Add labels

115
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Equa->User functions …

116
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Fill in function name; fill in function
• Click Enter; note function; click close
• Note: name must be at least 2 characters

117
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Equa->Explicit …

118
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Set f(x)=ff(x)
• Set pen width=2; set color; click ok

119
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Graph is displayed; next add animation boxes

120
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Anim->Individual->A …

121
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Note value is zero; note scroll bar in middle
• Set left (lower) and right (upper) bounds for a
• Enter -10; click set L (left bound); scroll bar at left

• Enter 10; click set R (right bound); scroll bar at right

• Scroll A to 1

122
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Repeat the steps for d and e
• Set both lower bounds to zero
• Set both upper bounds to 2
• Scroll both so that the values are 1
• Next slide shows results

123
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• We add P, Q, and R next

124
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• P is (a,ff(a))
• Q is (a,0)
• R is (0,ff(a))
• Details for P follow
• Details for Q and R are not shown; similar to P

125
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Equa->Point->(x,y) …

126
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Set x to a; set y to ff(a)
• Select solid
• Choose a color for the point
• Click ok when done
• Next slide shows P, Q, and R

127
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Add dashed lines PQ and PR next

128
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Equa->Segment->(x,y) …

129
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Instructions for PQ follow
• Set x1=0, y1=ff(a)
• Set x2=a, y2=ff(a)
• Set color; click dotted; click ok
• PR is similar; use dupl, then edit
• Dupl P then delete first P
• Next slide shows both segments; P is above both

130
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Next add the lines that bound the “bands”

131
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• The “epsilon band” lines are y=ff(a)-e and
y=ff(a)+e
• These are added as explicit functions
• The “delta band” lines are x=a-d and x=a+d
• These are added as lines
• The addition of one of each is shown on the
next few slides

132
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Equa->Explicit …

133
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Add the bottom line
• Set f(x) to ff(a)-e; set color; click ok
• Repeat for top line; not shown (use dupl)
• Set f(x) to ff(a)+e; click ok
• Next slide shows the two lines

134
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• The vertical lines are done next

135
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Equa->Line …

136
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Add the left vertical line
• Set a=1, b=0, c=a-d; change color; click ok
• Use dupl for right vertical line (not shown)
• Set a=1, b=0, c=a+d; click ok
• Next slide shows the two lines

137
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• One more item before we shade the “bands”

138
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Equa; note “Shade explicit inequalities …” is
available but “Shade implicit inequalities …” is
grayed out

139
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• The “epsilon band” is shaded explicitly
• The “delta band” is shaded implicitly
• We need to add two implicit values so that
“Shade implicit inequalities …” is available
• The next few slides do this

140
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Equa->Implicit …

141
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Fill in x=a-d; set color; click ok
• Use dupl to add second implicit (not shown)
• Fill in x=a+d; click ok
• Click the graph button for these two items in
the inventory so that they are hidden
• Next slide shows the results

142
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• We’re ready to do the shading now

143
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Equa->Shade explicit inequalities …

144
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• First dropdown; select y=ff(a)-e
• Click between radio button
• Second dropdown; select y=f(a)+e
• Select color; click shade; note values; click close

145
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Equa->Shade implicit inequalities …

146
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Click x=a-d; click change = to >; change color
• Click x=a+d; click change = to <
• Insure shading is correct; click close

147
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Almost done! (Now is a good time to save)

148
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• The last items to add are the labels
• The addition of one label is shown
• The remaining labels are added in a similar
manner

149
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Btns->Text

150
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Right click near where you want the label
• Fill in text; optionally change font
• Click tie text to frame; click ok
• Repeat process for all the labels
• Right click inside one to edit it
• Click and drag them to fine-tune position
• Final result shown on next slide

151
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Note the labels; (save the graph again)

152
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Time to use the example
• Set a to a particular value, say 1
• Set e to a particular value, say 1
• Scroll d until the graph, restricted to the
vertical band, is bounded by the horizontal
band (within the intersection rectangle)
• Setting e to a particular value corresponds to
“for every epsilon …”
• Scrolling d until the graph lies within the
intersection rectangle corresponds to “there is
a delta …”
• One possibility is shown on the next slide
153
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Looks like delta=0.36 works for epsilon=1

154
 A1: Epsilon-Delta
• Play some more
• Change e; does d need to change?
• Change a, leaving e as before; does d need
to change?
• Try changing the user-defined function; does
anything else need to change?
• This concludes the example

155
 A2: Polar Conic
• Recall that a conic is the set of points P
whose distance from a fixed point F (the
focus) are a constant multiple (the
eccentricity) of the distance from P to a fixed
line L (the directrix); that is, |PF| = e|PL|
• The polar equation r = ed/(1+e*cos(θ)) is a
conic with focus F at the pole and directrix L
a vertical line that intersects the polar axis
• Our next example illustrates F, L, P, PF, PL,
and how P changes as the parameter value θ
changes
• The next slide shows the final result
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• The example illustrates how a graph can do
an “active” animation
• The eccentricity and directrix are animated
• The example also illustrates how to use a
“User Function”, thus making the Inventory
somewhat “dynamic”
• Start with a new 2-dim screen
• Building this example takes some work, but is
worth it

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• Equa->User functions …

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• Type conic in name, ed/(1+ecos(x)) in name(x)

• Click Enter; note value; click close

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• Equa->Polar …

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• Replace f(t) with conic(t)
• Note low, high t are correctly set to 0, 2pi
• Set pen width to 2
• Set color
• Click ok

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• Can’t see graph because d and e are zero!!!
• Next open the d and e animate boxes

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• Anim->Individual->D …

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• Note value is zero; note scroll bar in middle
• Set left (lower) and right (upper) bounds for d
• Click set L (left bound); scroll bar now at left

• Enter 10; click set R (right bound); scroll bar at right

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• Still no graph, this time because d is 10
• Lower the d value to 2; click or drag

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• Hyperbolas appear!
• Open and set animation for e

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• Note value is 2.71828; note scroll bar
• Set left (lower) and right (upper) bounds for e
• Enter 0; click set L; scroll bar at left

• Enter 10; click set R (right bound); scroll bar at right

• No change in graph; lower the e value to 2

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• Still a hyperbola since e > 1

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• Directrix is next; Equa->Line …

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• Note a, b, c values
• Set a=1, b=0, c=d; change pen width to 2;
change color; click ok

x=d

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• Now we see the directrix; next is the focus

x=d

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• Equa->Point->(x,y) …

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• Set x=0, y=0
• Click solid
• Set dot size to 3
• Set color
• Click ok

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• Now we see the focus

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• The point P on the conic is now added
• Anticipating that we want to animate P to see
it move along the conic, we define it using a
parameter, u
– P has polar coordinates (conic(u),u)
• A second point, D (on the directrix), is added;
the distance from P to the directrix is |PD|;
the point D is also defined in terms of u
– D has rectangular coordinates (d, conic(u)sin(u))
• The next three slides show how P is added
• We do not show the addition of D since it is
similar to what was done for the focus 176
 A2: Polar Conic
• Add point P: Equa->Point->(r,t) …

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• Set r=conic(u), t=u
• Click solid
• Set dot size to 3
• Set color
• Click ok
• Next slide shows both P and D

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• Red point is P; green point on directrix is D
• Note that u is initially zero

P D

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• Add the animation dialog box for u
• Proceed as we did for d and e
• Set lower bound to 0 and upper bound to 2pi
• Move the scroll bar so that u is greater than zero
• Result shown on next slide

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• Note that P and D have moved

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• Almost done!
• What’s left is to add the line segment from the
focus, F, to P and the line segment from P to D
• We use rectangular coordinates for both
• The endpoints of PF are
(conic(u)cos(u),conic(u)sin(u)) and(0,0)
• The endpoints of PD are
(conic(u)cos(u),conic(u)sin(u)) and
(d,conic(u)sin(u))
• The next four slides show the addition of PD
• The addition of PF is similar so is not shown
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• Equa->Segment->(x,y) …

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• Set x1=conic(u)cos(u), y1=conic(u)sin(u)
• Set x2=d, y2=conic(u)sin(u)
• Click dotted
• Set color
• Click ok
• Next slide shows both segments

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• Highlight P in inventory; dupl; delete original

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• Graph is done! (Now is a good time to save it)

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• Time to play!
• The next few slides simulate the playing
• You can do better
• We show e=1 (parabola) and e<1 (ellipse)
• It’s much more fun to watch the graph change
as you move the scroll bar for e
• We wrap up the example by showing how you
can auto-animate P

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• Parabola (e=1)

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• Ellipse (e<1)

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• Hyperbola (e>1)

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• Our last illustration with this example is
actually why the example was created
• When the graph is drawn, it is drawn so fast
that you can’t tell the direction drawn
• We get around this by auto-animating u
• Close or move the e and d dialog boxes
• Zoom out (PgDn a few times)
• Close or move the inventory dialog box
• Reset the u value to zero

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• Click autocyc

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• Click Q to quit, F to speed up, S to slow down

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• Do the same auto-animation for a parabola
• Do the same auto-animation for an ellipse
• This completes the polar conic example

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