Visualizing Functions of Several Variables and Surfaces

Contents

Functions of Two Variables Finer Points of Plotting with MATLAB Problem 1: Problem 2: Surfaces Problem 3: Parameterized Surfaces Problem 4: Additional Problems

Functions of Two Variables

A function f of two variables is a rule which produces from two numerical inputs, say x and y, a numerical output, written f(x, y). Sometimes it will be preferable to think of f as taking one (2-dimensional) vector input instead of two scalar inputs. Now there are two main ways to visualize such a function:

a contour plot, or a two-dimensional picture of the level curves of the surface, which have equations of the form f(x, y) = c, where c is a constant; the graph of the function, which is the set of points (x, y, z) in threedimensional space satisfying f(x, y) = z.

We begin by illustrating how to produce these two kinds of pictures in MATLAB, using MATLAB's easy-to-use plotting commands, ezcontour and ezsurf. We will take f sufficiently complicated to be of some interest. Note that our plotting commands can take as input an expression that defines a function, rather than a function itself. (In other words, it is not necessary to use an M-file or an anonymous function as an input to the plotting command.)
syms x y f=((x^2-1)+(y^2-4)+(x^2-1)*(y^2-4))/(x^2+y^2+1)^2 f = ((x^2 - 1)*(y^2 - 4) + x^2 + y^2 - 5)/(x^2 + y^2 + 1)^2

We start with the contour plot. All we need as arguments to ezcontour are the expression, whose contours are to be plotted, and the ranges of values for x and y.
ezcontour(f, [-3, 3, -3, 3])

The color coding in the contour plot tells us how the values of the constant c are varying. One of the pictures in this case is misleading; the contour in dark blue in the very middle should really have the form of a figure-eight. We will see later why this is so and how to detect it. But for the time being let's move on. Now for a picture of the graph of f:
ezsurf(f, [-3, 3, -3, 3])

Once you execute this command, you can rotate the figure in space to be able to view it from different angles. Note that the graph is a surface, in other words, a twodimensional geometric object sitting in three-space. Every graph of a function of two variables is a surface, but not conversely. Note that MATLAB again color-codes the output, with blue denoting the smallest values of the function, and red denoting the largest.

Finer Points of Plotting with MATLAB

We begin with a brief discussion of how MATLAB does its plotting. The arguments to a MATLAB [non-ez] plotting function, such as surf, plot, plot3, mesh, or contour, are two or three identically shaped arrays. The positions in these arrays correspond to parameter or coordinate values; the entries give the coordinates as functions of the parameters (which may be identical with the coordinates). Thus for a curve, the arguments are usually linear arrays, or vectors, while for a surface, they are rectangular arrays, or matrices. We will illustrate how this works to plot the graph of the function f above. In this case, the parameters are also the x and y coordinates. We start by defining the coordinate grid with the meshgrid command.
[X1,Y1]= meshgrid(-5:.2:5,-5:.2:5);

We use X1 and Y1, rather than x and y, because we want to reserve the latter for symbolic variables. The command creates a grid with both the x and y coordinates varying in steps of .2 from -5 to 5. Note the use of the semicolon! If we had not suppressed the output, MATLAB would have printed out the entire grid.

Next, we must make f from a symbolic expression into a vectorized function, since it must operate on our arrays of x- and y-values. The output of vectorize is a string, so we use eval to evaluate it as a function. Then we evaluate this function at each point of the grid, to define the array of z-coordinates for the plot.
zfun = @(x, y) eval(vectorize(f)) Z1=zfun(X1,Y1); zfun = @(x,y)eval(vectorize(f))

We can now proceed with the plot in any of several ways:

surf(X1,Y1,Z1)

mesh(X1,Y1,Z1)

plot3(X1,Y1,Z1)

By now, it may have occurred to you that we could have issued exactly the same sequence of commands for any parametrized surface. The essential information for such a plot is the name of the symbolic vector that defined the parametrization, the specification of the parameter grid, and the plotting function to be used. We could have also used the ez plotting functions, as in:
ezsurf(f,[-5,5,-5,5])

ezmesh(f,[-5,5,-5,5])

Problem 1:
Obtain surface mesh and line plots of the function

(a) By using the step by step procedure followed above.

(b) By using ezsurf, ezmesh, and ezplot3.

Now let's go back to contour plots. ezcontour does not allow us to specify how many or which contours we want, or the colors of the contours. However, we can accomplish this using contour. For instance, we can plot the level curves f = 0 and f = 0.2 in red by typing:
contour(X1, Y1, Z1, [0,.2], 'r')

Problem 2:

(a) Obtain a contour plot of the function g(x,y) defined in Problem 1, using MATLAB's default contours. (b) Superimpose on the a plot of part (a) a plot showing the contours g(x,y) = 0, g(x,y)= 0.2, and g(x,y) = 0.4 in red.

Surfaces
Although we will analyze the function f(x,y) further in the next lesson, we abandon it for the present. Instead we discuss how to plot a surface that is not the graph of a function of two variables, such as a sphere. There are two main techniques available:

(1) We can write the surface as a level surface f(x, y, z) = c of a function of three variables, f(x, y, z). (2) We can parameterize the surface by writing x, y, and z each as functions of two parameters, say s and t. This is analogous to parameterizing a curve and writing x, y, and z each as a function of t.

We begin with the first case. The graph of a function of three variables would require a four dimensional plot, which is beyond MATLAB's capabilities, but we can draw a picture of a single level surface of the function. This can be viewed as a three dimensional version of contour plotting. A plot showing more than one contour is usually difficult to interpret, so we will discuss plotting a single contour. For this one can use the following M-file implicitplot3d:
type implicitplot3d.m function out=implicitplot3d(varargin) %IMPLICITPLOT3D 3-D implicit plot % IMPLICITPLOT3D(eq, val, xvar, yvar, zvar, xmin, xmax, % ymin, ymax, zmin, zmax) plots an implicit equation % eq=val, where eq is either symbolic expression of (symbolic) % variables xvar, yvar, and zvar in the indicated ranges, or % a string representing such an expression, and val is a number. % If xvar, yvar, and zvar are not specified, it is assumed they are % x, y, z in the symbolic case, or 'x', 'y',and 'z' in the % string form of the command, respectively. % The optional parameter plotpoints (added at the end) % gives the number of steps in each direction between plotting points. %

% % % % % % %

Example: implicitplot3d('x^2+y^2+z^2', 5, -3, 3, -3, 3, -3, 3) plots the sphere 'x^2+y^2+z^2=5' with 'x', 'y', and 'z' going from -3 to 3. implicitplot3d('x^2+y^2+z^2', 5, -3, 3, -3, 3, -3, 3, 30) does the same with higher accuracy. written by Jonathan Rosenberg, 7/30/99 rewritten for MATLAB 7, 8/22/05

if nargin<8 error('not enough input arguments -- need at least expression string, value, xmin, xmax, ymin, ymax, zmin, zmax'); end if nargin==10, error('impossible number of input arguments'); end if nargin>12, error('too many input arguments'); end % Default value of plotpoints is 10. plotpoints=10; eq=varargin{1}; val=varargin{2}; stringflag=ischar(eq); % This is 'true' in the string case, % 'false' in the symbolic case. % Next, handle subcase where variable names are missing. if nargin<10 if stringflag % First we deal with the string case. xvar='x'; yvar='y'; zvar='z'; else % Now deal with the case where eq is symbolic. syms x y z; xvar=x; yvar=y; zvar=z; end xmin=varargin{3}; xmax=varargin{4}; ymin=varargin{5}; ymax=varargin{6}; zmin=varargin{7}; zmax=varargin{8}; if nargin==9, plotpoints=varargin{9}; end end % Next, handle subcase where variable names are included. if nargin>10 xvar=varargin{3}; yvar=varargin{4}; zvar=varargin{5}; xmin=varargin{6}; xmax=varargin{7}; ymin=varargin{8}; ymax=varargin{9}; zmin=varargin{10}; zmax=varargin{11}; if nargin==12, plotpoints=varargin{12}; end end

if stringflag F = vectorize(inline(eq,xvar,yvar,zvar)); else F = inline(vectorize(eq),char(xvar),char(yvar),char(zvar)); end [X Y]= meshgrid(xmin:(xmax-xmin)/plotpoints:xmax, ymin:(ymaxymin)/plotpoints:ymax); %% %% %% %% Go through zvalues one at a time. For each one, plot corresponding contourplot in x and y, with that z-value. We could use "contour" except that it makes a "shadow", so we copy some of the code of "contour".

for z=zmin:(zmax-zmin)/plotpoints:zmax lims = [min(X(:)),max(X(:)), min(Y(:)),max(Y(:))]; c = contours(X,Y,F(X,Y,z), [val val]); limit = size(c,2); i = 1; h = []; while(i < limit) npoints = c(2,i); nexti = i+npoints+1; xdata = c(1,i+1:i+npoints); ydata = c(2,i+1:i+npoints); zdata = z + 0*xdata; % Make zdata the same size as xdata line('XData',xdata,'YData',ydata,'ZData',zdata); hold on; i = nexti; end end view(3) xlabel(char(xvar)) ylabel(char(yvar)) zlabel(char(zvar)) title([char(eq),' = ',num2str(val)], 'Interpreter','none') hold off

Here's an example:
syms x y z; h=x^2+y^2+z^2; clf; % Clear old figure implicitplot3d(h, 4, -3, 3, -3, 3, -3, 3, 40); axis equal

Problem 3:
Plot the hyperboloid

(Think of it as a level surface.)

Parameterized Surfaces
We have now plotted surfaces as graphs of functions of two variables or as level surfaces of functions of three variables. The third possibility is case (2) above, using a parameterization, which we have already used in a previous lesson. Let us return to the tube around the twisted cubic. We will not need the entire context that created it, but only the parametrization of the tube itself.
syms s t tctube=[ t- 1/5*cos(s)*t*(2+9*t^2)/(9*t^4+9*t^2+1)^(1/2)/ (1+4*t^2+9*t^4)^(1/2)+3/5*sin(s)*t^2/(9*t^4+9*t^2+1)^(1/2), ... t^2-1/5*cos(s)*(-1+9*t^4)/(9*t^4+9*t^2+1)^(1/2)/ (1+4*t^2+9*t^4)^(1/2)-3/5*sin(s)*t/(9*t^4+9*t^2+1)^(1/2), ...

t^3+3/5*cos(s)*t*(1+2*t^2)/(9*t^4+9*t^2+1)^(1/2)/ (1+4*t^2+9*t^4)^(1/2)+1/5*sin(s)/(9*t^4+9*t^2+1)^(1/2)] tctube = [ t + (3*t^2*sin(s))/(5*(9*t^4 + 9*t^2 + 1)^(1/2)) - (t*cos(s)*(9*t^2 + 2))/(5*(9*t^4 + 4*t^2 + 1)^(1/2)*(9*t^4 + 9*t^2 + 1)^(1/2)), t^2 (3*t*sin(s))/(5*(9*t^4 + 9*t^2 + 1)^(1/2)) - (cos(s)*(9*t^4 - 1))/ (5*(9*t^4 + 4*t^2 + 1)^(1/2)*(9*t^4 + 9*t^2 + 1)^(1/2)), sin(s)/ (5*(9*t^4 + 9*t^2 + 1)^(1/2)) + t^3 + (3*t*cos(s)*(2*t^2 + 1))/ (5*(9*t^4 + 4*t^2 + 1)^(1/2)*(9*t^4 + 9*t^2 + 1)^(1/2))]

Do not be daunted by the complexity of this expression; we can use ezmesh to recreate the plot of the tube that shows the twisting of the curves of constant s.
ezmesh(tctube(1), tctube(2), tctube(3), [0, 2*pi, -1, 1]) title 'tube around a twisted cubic'

Other surfaces can also be parametrized. In particular, the sphere we plotted as a level surface can also be plotted parametrically (with better results), using spherical coordinates. We use ph and th to represent the angles phi and theta. Note the use of axis equal to make sure our plot looks like a sphere and not just an ellipsoid.
syms ph th ezmesh(2*sin(ph)*cos(th), 2*sin(ph)*sin(th), ... 2*cos(ph), [0, pi, 0, 2*pi]) axis equal

Essentially the same parametrization can be used for an ellipsoid by replacing the numerical coefficients of the three components, which were all equal to 2 in the above case of the sphere, by the lengths of the respective semi-major axes. Hyperboloids can be conveniently parametrized using hyperbolic functions. The essential identity to bear in mind is

The following line parametrizes and plots the hyperboloid of one sheet

ezmesh(cosh(s)*cos(t),cosh(s)*sin(t),sinh(s), [-1, 1, 0, 2*pi])

Problem 4:
Parametrize and replot parametrically the hyperboloid you plotted in Problem 3.

Additional Problems

1. Plot the hyperboloid of two sheets

(a) As a level surface. (b) By parametrizing the upper and lower sheets separately and plotting them both in the same figure using hold on. 2. Let

(a) Plot the graph of h(x, y) for a range of x and y sufficient to show the interesting features of the function. (b) Obtain a contour plot of h(x, y) for the same range.

A 3D scatter plot allows for the visualization of multivariate data of up to four dimensions. The Scatter plot takes multiple scalar variables and uses them for different axes in phase space. The different variables are combined to form coordinates in the phase space and they are displayed using glyphs and colored using another scalar variable.[1] A scatter plot or scattergraph is a type of mathematical diagram using Cartesian coordinates to display values for two variables for a set of data. The data is displayed as a collection of points, each having the value of one variable determining the position on the horizontal axis and the value of the other variable determining the position on the vertical axis.[2] This kind of plot is also called a scatter chart, scattergram, scatter diagram or scatter graph.

[edit] Overview
A scatter plot is used when a variable exists that is under the control of the experimenter. If a parameter exists that is systematically incremented and/or decremented by the other, it is called the control parameter or independent variable and is customarily plotted along the horizontal axis. The measured or dependent variable is customarily plotted along the vertical axis. If no dependent variable exists, either type of variable can be plotted on either axis and a scatter plot will illustrate only the degree of correlation (not causation) between two variables. A scatter plot can suggest various kinds of correlations between variables with a certain confidence interval. Correlations may be positive (rising), negative (falling), or null (uncorrelated). If the pattern of dots slopes from lower left to upper right, it suggests a positive correlation between the variables being studied. If the pattern of

dots slopes from upper left to lower right, it suggests a negative correlation. A line of best fit (alternatively called 'trendline') can be drawn in order to study the correlation between the variables. An equation for the correlation between the variables can be determined by established best-fit procedures. For a linear correlation, the best-fit procedure is known as linear regression and is guaranteed to generate a correct solution in a finite time. No universal best-fit procedure is guaranteed to generate a correct solution for arbitrary relationships. A scatter plot is also very useful when we wish to see how two comparable data sets agree with each other. In this case, an identity line, i.e., a y=x line, or an 1:1 line, is often drawn as a reference. The more the two data sets agree, the more the scatters tend to concentrate in the vicinity of the identity line; if the two data sets are numerically identical, the scatters fall on the identity line exactly. One of the most powerful aspects of a scatter plot, however, is its ability to show nonlinear relationships between variables. Furthermore, if the data is represented by a mixture model of simple relationships, these relationships will be visually evident as superimposed patterns. The scatter diagram is one of the seven basic tools of quality control.[3]

[edit] Example
For example, to display values for "lung capacity" (first variable) and how long that person could hold his breath, a researcher would choose a group of people to study, then measure each one's lung capacity (first variable) and how long that person could hold his breath (second variable). The researcher would then plot the data in a scatter plot, assigning "lung capacity" to the horizontal axis, and "time holding breath" to the vertical axis. A person with a lung capacity of 400 ml who held his breath for 21.7 seconds would be represented by a single dot on the scatter plot at the point (400, 21.7) in the Cartesian coordinates. The scatter plot of all the people in the study would enable the researcher to obtain a visual comparison of the two variables in the data set, and will help to determine what kind of relationship there might be between the two variables.

[edit] See also

Plot (graphics)

[edit] References
1. ^ Visualizations that have been created with VisIt. at wci.llnl.gov. Last updated: November 8, 2007. 2. ^ Utts, Jessica M. Seeing Through Statistics 3rd Edition, Thomson Brooks/Cole, 2005, pp 166-167. ISBN 0-534-39402-7 3. ^ Nancy R. Tague (2004). "Seven Basic Quality Tools". The Quality Toolbox. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: American Society for Quality. p. 15.

http://www.asq.org/learn-about-quality/seven-basic-qualitytools/overview/overview.html. Retrieved 2010-02-05.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Scatterplots

What is a scatterplot? Correlation scatter-plot matrix - for ordered-categorical data - Explanation and R code

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scatter_plot" Categories: Statistical charts and diagrams | Quality control tools Hidden categories: Statistics articles with navigational template

Learning Objectives
After completing this tutorial, you should be able to: 1. Plot points on a rectangular coordinate system. 2. Identify what quadrant or axis a point lies on. 3. Know if an equation is a linear equation. 4. Tell if an ordered pair is a solution of an equation in two variables or not.

5. Graph an equation by plotting points.

Introduction
This section covers the basic ideas of graphing: rectangular coordinate system, solutions to equations in two variables, and sketching a graph. Graphs are important in giving a visual representation of the correlation between two variables. Even though in this section we are going to look at it generically, using a general x and y variable, you can use two-dimensional graphs for any application where you have two variables. For example, you may have a cost function that is dependent on the quantity of items made. If you needed to show your boss visually the correlation of the quantity with the cost, you could do that on a two-dimensional graph. I believe that it is important for you learn how to do something in general, then when you need to apply it to something specific you have the knowledge to do so. Going from general to specific is a lot easier than specific to general. And that is what we are doing here looking at graphing in general so later you can apply it to something specific, if needed.

Tutorial
Rectangular Coordinate System
The following is the rectangular coordinate system:

It is made up of two number lines: 1. The horizontal number line is the x- axis. 2. The vertical number line is the y- axis. The origin is where the two intersect. This is where both number lines are 0. It is split into four quadrants which are marked on this graph with Roman numerals. Each point on the graph is associated with an ordered pair. When dealing with an x, y graph, x is always first and y is always second in the ordered pair (x, y). It is a solution to an equation in two variables. Even though there are two values in the ordered pair, be careful that it associates to ONLY ONE point on the graph, the point lines up with both the x value of the ordered pair (x-axis) and the y value of the ordered pair (y-axis).

Example 1: Plot the ordered pairs and name the quadrant or axis in which the point lies. A(2, 3), B(-1, 2), C(-3, -4), D(2, 0), and E(0, 5).
Remember that each ordered pair associates with only one point on the graph. Just line up the x value and then the y value to get your location.

A(2, 3) lies in quadrant I. B(-1, 2) lies in quadrant II. C(-3, -4) lies in quadrant III.

D(2, 0) lies on the x-axis. E(0, 5) lies on the y-axis.

Solutions of Equations in Two Variables

The solutions to equations in two variables consist of two values that when substituted into their corresponding variables in the equation, make a true statement. In other words, if your equation has two variables x and y, and you plug in a value for x and its corresponding value for y and the mathematical statement comes out to be true, then the x and y value that you plugged in would together be a solution to the equation. Equations in two variables can have more than one solution. We usually write the solutions to equations in two variables in ordered pairs.

Example 2: Determine whether each ordered pair is a solution of the given equation.
5x - 7; (2, 3), (1, 5), (-1, -12) Lets start with the ordered pair (2, 3).

y=

Which number is the x value and which one is the y value? If you said x = 2 and y = 3, you are correct!

Lets plug (2, 3) into the equation and see what we get:

*Plug in 2 for x and 3 for y

This is a TRUE statement, so (2, 3) is a solution to the equation y = 5x - 7.

Now lets take a look at (1, 5). Which number is the x value and which one is the y value? are right! If you said x = 1 and y = 5, you

Lets plug (1, 5) into the equation and see what we get:

*Plug in 1 for x and 5 for y

Whoops, it looks like we have ourselves a FALSE statement. This means that (1, 5) is NOT a solution to the equation 5x - 7.

Now lets look at (-1, -12). Which number is the x value and which one is the y value? you are right! If you said x = -1 and y = -12,

Lets plug (-1, -12) into the equation and see what we get:

*Plug in -1 for x and -12 for y

We have another TRUE statement. This means (-1, -12) is another solution to the equation y = 5x - 7. Note that you were only given three ordered pairs to check, however, there are an infinite number of solutions to this equation. It would very cumbersome to find them all.

Example 3: Determine whether each ordered pair is a solution of the given

equation. ; (0, -3), (1, -3), (-1, -3)

Lets start with the ordered pair (0, -3). Which number is the x value and which one is the y value? If you said x = 0 and y = -3, you are correct! Lets plug (0, -3) into the equation and see what we get:

*Plug in 0 for x and -3 for y

This is a FALSE statement, so (0, -3) is NOT a solution to the equation

Now, lets take a look at (1, -3). Which number is the x value and which one is the y value? are right! If you said x = 1 and y = -3, you

Lets plug (1, -3) into the equation and see what we get:

*Plug in 1 for x and -3 for y

This is a TRUE statement. This means that (1, -3) is a solution to the equation

Now, lets look at (-1, -3). Which number is the x value and which one is the y value? are right! If you said x = -1 and y = -3, you

Lets plug (-1, -3) into the equation and see what we get:

*Plug in -1 for x and -3 for y

This is a TRUE statement. This means that (1, -3) is a solution to the equation

Linear Equation in Two Variables Standard Form: Ax + By = C

A linear equation in two variables is an equation that can be written in the form Ax + By = C, where A and B are not both 0. This form is called the standard form of a linear equation.

Example 4: Write the following linear equation in standard form. y = 7x - 5

This means we want to write it in the form Ax + By = C.

*Inverse of add 7x is sub. 7x *In standard form

Graphing a Linear Equation by Plotting Points If the equation is linear:

Step 1:

Find three ordered pair solutions.

You do this by plugging in ANY three values for x and find their corresponding y values. Yes, it can be ANY three values you want, 1, -3, or even 10,000. Remember there are an infinite number of solutions. As long as you find the corresponding y value that goes with each x, you have a solution.

Step 2:

Plot the points found in step 1.

Remember that each ordered pair corresponds to only one point on the graph. The point lines up with both the x value of the ordered pair (x-axis) and the y value of the ordered pair (y-axis).

Step 3:

Draw the graph.

A linear equation will graph as a straight line. If you know it is a linear equation and your points dont line up, then you either need to check your math in step 1 and/or that you plotted all the points found correctly.

Example 5: Determine whether the equation is linear or not. Then graph the equation. y =
5x - 3 If we subtract 5x from both sides, then we can write the given equation as -5x + y = -3. Since we can write it in the standard form, Ax + By = C, then we have a linear equation. This means that we will have a line when we go to graph this.

Step 1:

Find three ordered pair solutions.

Im going to use a chart to organize my information. A chart keeps track of the x values that you are using and the corresponding y value found when you used a particular x value. If you do this step the same each time, then it will make it easier for you to remember how to do it. I usually pick out three points when I know Im dealing with a line. The three x values Im going to use are -1, 0, and 1. (Note that you can pick ANY three x values that you want. You do not have to use the values that I picked.) You want to keep it as simple as possible. The following is the chart I ended up with after plugging in the values I mentioned for x.

x
-1 0 1

y = 5x - 3
y = 5(-1) - 3 = -8 y = 5(0) - 3 = -3 y = 5(1) - 3 = 2

(x, y) (-1, -8) (0, -3) (1, 2)

Step 2:

Plot the points found in step 1.

Step 3:

Draw the graph.

Graphing a Non-Linear Equation by Plotting Points If the equation is non-linear:

Step 1:

Find six or seven ordered pair solutions.

Non-linear equations can vary on what the graph looks like. So it is good to have a lot of points so you can get the right shape of the graph.

Step 2: Step 3:

Plot the points found in step 1. Draw the graph.

If the points line up draw a straight line through them. If the points are in a curve, draw a curve through them.

Example 6: Determine whether the equation is linear or not. Then graph the
equation.

If we subtract the x squared from both sides, we would end up with . Is this a linear equation? Note how we have an x squared as opposed to x to the one power. It looks like we cannot write it in the form Ax + By = C because the x has to be to the one power, not squared. So this is not a linear equation. However, we can still graph it.

Step 1:

Find six or seven ordered pair solutions.

The seven x values that I'm going to use are -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, and 3. (Note that you can pick ANY x values that you want. You do not have to use the values that I picked.) You want to keep it as simple as possible. The following is the chart I ended up with after plugging in the values I mentioned for x. Note that the carrot top (^) represents an exponent. For example, x squared can be written as x^2. The second column is showing you the 'scratch work' of how we got the corresponding value of y.

x
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 y = (-3)^2 - 4 = 5 y = (-2)^2 - 4 = 0 y = (-1)^2 - 4 = -3 y = (0)^2 - 4 = -4 y = (1)^2 - 4 = -3 y = (2)^2 - 4 = 0 y = (3)^2 - 4 = 5

(x , y ) (-3, 5) (-2, 0) (-1, -3) (0, -4) (1, -3) (2, 0) (3, 5)

Step 2:

Plot the points found in step 1.

Step 3:

Draw the graph.

Example 7: Determine whether the equation is linear or not. Then graph the
equation. Do you think this equation is linear or not? It is a tricky problem because both the x and y variables are to the one power. However, x is inside the absolute value sign and we cant just take it out of there. In other words, we cant write it in the form Ax + By = C. This means that this equation is not a linear equation. If you are unsure that an equation is linear or not, you can ALWAYS plug in x values and find the corresponding y values to come up with ordered pairs to plot.

Step 1:

Find six or seven ordered pair solutions.

The seven x values that I'm going to use are -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, and 3. (Note that you can pick ANY x values that you want. You do not have to use the values that I picked.) You want to keep it as simple as possible. The following is the chart I ended up with after plugging in the values I mentioned for x.

x
-3 y = |-3 + 1| = 2

(x , y ) (-3, 2)

-2 -1 0 1 2 3

y = |-2 + 1| = 1 y = |-1 + 1| = 0 y = |0 + 1| = 1 y = |1 + 1| = 2 y = |2 + 1| = 3 y = |3 + 1| = 4

(-2, 1) (-1, 0) (0, 1) (1, 2) (2, 3) (3, 4)

Step 2:

Plot the points found in step 1.

Step 3:

Draw the graph.

Practice Problems
These are practice problems to help bring you to the next level. It will allow you to check and see if you have an understanding of these types of problems. Math works just like anything else, if you want to get good at it, then you need to practice it. Even the best athletes and musicians had help along the way and lots of practice, practice, practice, to get good at their sport or instrument. In fact there is no such thing as too much practice. To get the most out of these, you should work the problem out on your own and then check your answer by clicking on the link for the answer/discussion for that problem. At the link you will find the answer as well as any steps that went into finding that answer.

Practice Problem 1a: Plot the ordered pairs and name the quadrant or axis in which the point lies.

1a. A(3, 1), B(-2, -1/2), C(2, -2), and D(0,1)

(answer/discussion to 1a)

Practice Problem 2a: Determine if each ordered pair is a solution of the given equation.

2a.

y = 4x - 10

(0, -10), (1, -14), (-1, -14)

(answer/discussion to 2a)

Practice Problems 3a - 3c: Determine whether each equation is linear or not. Then grap the equation.

3a.

y = 2x - 1

3b.

(answer/discussion to 3a)

(answer/discussion to 3b)

3c.
(answer/discussion to 3c)

Need Extra Help on these Topics?

The following are webpages that can assist you in the topics that were covered on this page: http://www.purplemath.com/modules/plane.htm This webpage helps you with plotting points. http://www.math.com/school/subject2/lessons/S2U4L1DP.html This website helps you with plotting points. http://www.purplemath.com/modules/graphlin.htm This webpage helps you with graphing linear equations. Go to Get Help Outside the Classroom found in Tutorial 1: How to Succeed in a Math Class for some more suggestions.

WTAMU > Virtual Math Lab > Intermediate Algebra

Last revised on July 3, 2011 by Kim Seward. All contents copyright (C) 2001 - 2011, WTAMU and Kim Seward. All rights reserved.

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Solutions: Systems of 3 variable Equations

Where Planes Intersect
Systems of equations that have three variables are systems of planes. Since all three variables equations such as 2x + 3y + 4z = 6 describe a a three dimensional plane. Pictured below is an example of the graph of the plane 2x + 3y + z = 6. The red triangle is the portion of the plane when x, y, and z values are all positive. This plane actually continues off in the negative direction. All that is pictured is the part of the plane that is intersected by the positive axes (the negative axes have dashed lines).

Systems of Linear Equations ( 2 variables) Like systems of linear equations, the solution of a system of planes can be no solution, one solution or infinite solutions.

No Solution of three variable systems

Below is a picture of three planes that have no solution.There is no single point at which all three planes intersect, therefore this system has no solution.

The other common example of systems of three variables equations that have no solution is pictured below. In the case below, each plane intersects the other two planes. However, there is no single point at which all three planes meet. Therefore, the system of 3 variable equations below has no solution.

One Solution of three variable systems

If the three planes intersect as pictured below then the three variable system has 1 point in common, and a single solution represented by the black point below.

 Infinite Solutions of three variable systems

If the three planes intersect as pictured below then the three variable system has a line of intersection and therefore an infinite number of solutions.

Before attempting to solve systems of three variable equations using elimination, you should probably be comfortable solving 2 variable systems of linear equations using elimination Example of how to solve a system of three variable equations using elimination.

Practice Problems

Problem 1) Use elimination to solve the following system of three variable equations. 4x + 2y 2z = 10 2x + 8y + 4z = 32 30x + 12y 4z = 24 Solution Top

Hello, I posted this several weeks ago in another forum, but I never really got a good answer. Could someone please take a look at this an tell me if it's mathematically valid? Thanks!

Do Equations in More Than Three Variables Represent Graphs in Higher Dimensions? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hey, first of all, I'd like to apologize if I'm posting this in the wrong forum. I wasn't sure whether I should post it here or in the mathematics forum. Recently I was going through an Algebra book, and I saw a chapter on solving linear equations in three variables. The book explained how these sets of equations can be solved using elimination, matrices, Cramer's rule, etc. Anyway, I worked several of these problems. When I was finished, just out of curiosity, I wondered what it would be like if I set up five sets of equations with five variables, and solved them. I created one, and using my preferred technique, elimination, I went about solving it and it went MUCH more smoothly than I expected it would. When I was finished, I had the values that I had started out with, and it had all worked out fine. I used five variables X, Y, Z, K, and J. When I had finished, I went back to the book I was using and saw that linear sentences in two variables represented graphs in two dimensions, and linear equations in three variables represent graphs in three dimensions. So here's my question: Do sets of equations with more than three variables represent graphs in higher dimensions? P.S: Here are the equations I worked. Feel free to point out anything that I may have done wrong. 2x+4y-1z-6k+2j=-1

3x+6y-3z-8k+4j=1 1x+3y+4z-2k+4j=47 4x-2y-2z+6k+2j=28 5x+3y+4z+3k+3j=69 (The values are X=2, Y=3, Z=5, K=4, J=6).

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Dec2107, 03:31 PM HallsofIvy Originally Posted by Liger20 Hello, I posted this several weeks ago in another forum, but I never really got a good answer. Could someone please take a look at this an tell me if it's mathematically valid? Thanks!

#2

HallsofIvy is Offline: Posts: 30,415

Do Equations in More Than Three Variables Represent Graphs in Higher Dimensions? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey, first of all, I'd like to apologize if I'm posting this in the wrong forum. I wasn't sure whether I should post it here or in the mathematics forum. Recently I was going through an Algebra book, and I saw a chapter on solving linear equations in three variables. The book explained how these sets of equations can be solved using elimination, matrices, Cramer's rule, etc. Anyway, I worked several of these problems. When I was finished, just out of curiosity, I wondered what it would be like if I set up five sets of equations with five variables, and solved them. I created one, and using my preferred technique, elimination, I went about solving it and it went MUCH more smoothly than I expected it would. When I was finished, I had the values that I had started out with, and it had all worked out fine. I used five variables X, Y, Z, K, and J. When I had finished, I went back to the book I was using and saw that linear sentences in two variables represented graphs in two dimensions, and linear equations in three variables represent graphs in three dimensions. So here's my question: Do sets of equations with more than three variables represent graphs in higher dimensions? P.S: Here are the equations I worked. Feel free to point out anything that I may have done wrong. 2x+4y-1z-6k+2j=-1 3x+6y-3z-8k+4j=1 1x+3y+4z-2k+4j=47 4x-2y-2z+6k+2j=28 5x+3y+4z+3k+3j=69 (The values are X=2, Y=3, Z=5, K=4, J=6). Actually, I would have put it the other way around: a graph represents an equation. Equations don't necessarily "represent" graphs or anything else. An equation is itself and, if it was derived from some application, represents whatever the application is about. However, it certainly is possible to associate an equation in several variables with a graph. In this

case, you have 5 linear equations in 5 variables. It would be possible to solve each of those equations for any one of the variables "in terms of" the other 4. Given any one of those 4 values, the 5th is determined. Yes, we could set up a "5 dimensional" coordinate system and each equation would "represent" (or be represented by) a "hyperplane" in 5 dimensions.

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