Display a Graph on a Calculator

Displaying a mathematical graph requires a special device called a graphing calculator. Users input math functions into the calculator and then it plots those functions on a grid. Displaying a graph on a calculator often helps understand how a function appears in the physical world. It only takes a few minutes to set up a graph display. Different calculators used different terms for the relevant functions, but work in basically the same way.


Instructions
1. Turn on the graphing calculator by pressing the "Power" button, which will most likely be labeled "On." Check your graphing calculator's manual for the specific location of the power button.

2. Navigate to the graph plotting menu. The graph menu button can be called different names in different calculators. For example, in the Casio FX-9750 graphing calculator, you reach the menu by pressing the "Graph" button. Enter the mathematical function you wish to graph with the numbered buttons. The function must include a variable letter like "X" to graph properly. Press the "X" button to enter the "X" variable into your function. Review your graphing calculator's user manual for information on creating more complex functions.
   
3. Press the "Graph" button and view the new graph. In the TI 83 calculators you should press the "Graph" button while in the Casio FX-9750 you should press the "Draw" button. The calculator will automatically display the mathematical function as a graph.

4. Re-size the graph window to display the image more clearly. Your graph will likely either appear too small on the calculator or too large. If the graph looks too small you should zoom in on the image. You can do this on the TI-83 graphing calculator by pressing the "Zoom" button. The button may be called something different on your specific calculator however. Continue pressing the button to make the image larger. If the image you graph looks too large you should zoom out. You can do this on Casio FX-9750 by pressing the "F4" button. Continue to use the "Zoom Out" button until you like appearance of the graph.