1

2)fplot function

• The MATLAB function fplot can be used

to plot a function of one variable in a
specified range.

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See also
•Function plot
>>fplot(‘function’,[xmin xmax],’property’)
Example :
>>fplot(‘sin’,[0 2*pi],’r:’)

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fplot function

• » fplot('sin(x)',[-pi pi])

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fplot function

• » fplot('sin(x)',[-pi pi])

0.5

-0.5

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fplot function

• » fplot('exp(-x)*sin(x)',[0 2])

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fplot function

• » fplot('exp(-x)*sin(x)',[0 2])

0.35

0.3

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0.2

0.15

0.1

0.05

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2

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Adding a grid
• You can use the command:
• grid on
• to add grid lines to your plot. This
increases the readability of the graph.

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Adding a grid
• You can use the command:
• grid on
• to add grid lines to your plot. This
increases the readability of the graph.
• To remove these grid lines, use:
• grid off

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Adding a grid
• » fplot('exp(x)-x-2',[-3 3])
• » grid on

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Adding a grid
• » fplot('exp(x)-x-2',[-3 3])
• » grid on
20

15

10

-5
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

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3D Plotting

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plot3 function
• The MATLAB function plot3 is used to
plot space curves.

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plot3 function
• The MATLAB function plot3 is used to
plot space curves.

• Space curves are usually represented by

parametric equations:
• x = x(t), y = y(t), z = z(t)

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plot3 function
• The MATLAB function plot3 is used to
plot space curves.

• Space curves are usually represented by

parametric equations:
• x = x(t), y = y(t), z = z(t)

• Steps followed and options available for

plot3 is similar to that of plot.

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plot3 Example 1
• Example: Plot the line
• x = t + 2, y = t - 2, z = t, 0 < t < 1

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plot3 Example 1
• Example: Plot the line
• x = t + 2, y = t - 2, z = t, 0 < t < 1

>> t=0:0.01:1;
>> x=t+2;
>> y=t-2;
>> z=t;
>> plot3 (x,y,z,'r.')
>> grid on

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plot3 Example

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plot3 Example 2

• Example: Plot the circle

• x = 1, y = 5 cos t, z = 5 sin t, - < t < 

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plot3 Example 2

• Example: Plot the circle

• x = 1, y = 5 cos t, z = 5 sin t, - < t < 
» t=-pi:0.01:pi;
» x=ones(length(t),1);
» y=5*cos(t);
» z=5*sin(t);
» plot3(x,y,z,'r.')
» grid on

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plot3 Example

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plot3 Example 3

• Example: Plot the helix

• x = cos t, y = sin t, z = t, 0 < t < 10 

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plot3 Example 3

• Example: Plot the helix

• x = cos t, y = sin t, z = t, 0 < t < 10 

t=0:0.01:10*pi;
x=cos(t);
y=sin(t);
z=t;
plot3(x,y,z,'r.')
grid on

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plot3 Example

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plot3 function

• The MATLAB function plot3 can be used

also to plot multiple 2D curves in 3D.

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plot3 Example 4
• Example: Plot together
• sin x, cos x

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plot3 Example 4
• Example: Plot together
• sin x, cos x

x=0:0.01:3*pi;
y1=zeros(size(x));
y2=ones(size(x));
z1=sin(x);
z2=cos(x);
plot3(x,y1,z1,'.r',x,y2,z2,'.g')
grid on

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plot3 Example 4

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mesh function

• The MATLAB function mesh is used to

plot surfaces.

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mesh function

• The MATLAB function mesh is used to

plot surfaces.

• Surfaces are usually represented by a

function of two variables:
• z = f(x, y)

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mesh function

• The MATLAB function mesh is used to

plot surfaces.

• Surfaces are usually represented by a

function of two variables:
• z = f(x, y)

• To use this function we have to use

meshgrid first to generate to pairs (x, y)
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meshgrid by example
>> x=0:2
x = 0 1 2
>> y=0:2
y = 0 1 2
>> [X,Y]=meshgrid(x,y)

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meshgrid by example
>> x=0:2
x = 0 1 2
>> y=0:2
y = 0 1 2
>> [X,Y]=meshgrid(x,y)
X = 0 1 2
0 1 2
0 1 2

Y = 0 0 0
1 1 1
2 2 2

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mesh Example 1

• Example: Plot the surface

• z = x2 + y2

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mesh Example 1

• Example: Plot the surface

• z = x2 + y2

x=-3:0.01:3;
y=-3:0.01:3;
[X,Y]=meshgrid(x,y);
z=X.^2+Y.^2;
mesh(X,Y,z)

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mesh Example 1

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mesh Example 2

• Example: Plot the surface

• 7 x - y + z=3

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mesh Example 2

• Example: Plot the surface

• 7 x - y + z=3

>> x=-3:0.1:3;
>> y=-3:0.1:3;
>> [X,Y]=meshgrid(x,y);
>> z=3-7*X+Y;
>> mesh(X,Y,z)

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mesh Example 2

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Other Useful Graphics Commands

You may find the following set of commands useful:

Function Used to

plot3 Create a graph for a 3D data representing a space curve

loglog Create a graph with logarithmic scales for both axes

semilogx Create a graph with logarithmic scale for the x axis only

semilogy Create a graph with logarithmic scale for the y axis only

plotyy Create a graph with y-tick labels on the left and right side

gtext Position text using the mouse

clf Clears the figure

ginput Gather data by clicking on points in the plot

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