Plot a Function You Can Vary Dynamically (Using a Slider)

How To... > Work with Graphs > Add Lines and Functions to Graphs > Plot a Function You Can Vary Dynamically (Using a Slider)

Suppose you’re trying to fit a function to data in a scatter plot, but you aren’t sure exactly what value you should use for some part of the function (coefficient or exponent, for example). You can make a slider and use its name for that part of the function. When you change the slider’s value (by dragging or typing), the function updates dynamically.

_img53

1.	Make a slider by dragging one from the shelf or choosing Object \| New \| Slider.

2.	Give the slider a meaningful name (such as denominator).

3.	Select the graph.

4.	Choose Graph \| Plot Function.

This shows a formula editor.

5.	Define the function you want plotted, and click OK or press Enter or Return to accept the formula and close the formula editor.

If you are already editing a function when you decide to use a slider, you can put the slider’s (future) name in the formula and make the slider after closing the formula editor. (Your graph will have a #Name Not Recognized# error that goes away once you’ve created and named a slider.)