How to graph an equation
Why graph an equation?
Graphs make it easier to analyze features of the equation like intercepts, increasing/decreasing, maxima/minima, concavity, etc. Examining a graph can reveal insights.
What are intercepts?
Intercepts refer to the points where a function or curve intersects the x-axis and y-axis. There are two main types of intercepts: x-intercepts and y-intercepts. Identifying these intercepts provides insight into the function and can help derive key characteristics.
What is an increasing/decreasing equation?
- Increasing - The graph is rising as it moves left to right. The y-values increase as x increases.
- Decreasing - The graph is falling as it moves left to right. The y-values decrease as x increases.
Identifying increasing/decreasing intervals helps understand the function's behavior.
What are maxima/minima?
Maxima and minima refer to the points where a function reaches its highest or lowest value.
- Local maxima is the highest value in a region and global maxima when absolute highest over all x values.
- Local minima is the lowest value in a region and global minima when absolute lowest over all x values.
What is concavity?
Concavity refers to the shape of the curve and whether it curves up or down.
The two types of concavity are:
- Concave up - The curve resembles a cup or smile shape opening upwards. Indicates the rate of change is increasing.
- Concave down - The curve resembles a frown shape curving downwards. Indicates the rate of change is decreasing.
What are inflection points?
An inflection point is a point on the curve where the concavity changes from concave up to concave down or vice versa.
Graph an equation
Table of Contents
- Calculate values
- Insert x y scatter chart
- Change the x and y axis minimum and maximum value
- Format x and y axis
- Get Excel *.xlsx file
The picture above shows the following equation
plotted on an x y scatter chart.
1. Calculate values
Here are the instructions on how I built this chart:
- Type -10 and -9 in cell A2:A3
- Select cell A2:A3Â and press and hold on the black dot.
- Drag down until you see the number 10.
- Release the mouse button
- Select cell B2 and type:Â =A2^3+3*A2^2-3
- Press Enter
- Double press with left mouse button on dot in the lower right corner. This copies the formula to cells below as far as there are cells containing values in column A.
2. Insert x y scatter chart
- Go to tab "Insert" on the ribbon
- Press with mouse on scatter chart icon
- Press with mouse on the scatter chart you prefer, I chose Scatter with straight lines.
3. Change the x and y axis minimum and maximum value
- Press with right mouse button on on x axis
- Press with mouse on "Format axis..."
- Change minimum and maximum value
- Change major units
Repeat with y axis.
4. Format x and y axis
- Select x axis again
- Press with mouse on Fill and Line icon
- Select "Solid Line" and pick a color.
- Repeat with y axis
Useful resources
How to Plot an Equation in Excel
Built-in Charts
Combo Charts
Combined stacked area and a clustered column chartCombined chart – Column and Line on secondary axis
Combined Column and Line chart
Chart elements
Chart basics
How to create a dynamic chartRearrange data source in order to create a dynamic chart
Use slicers to quickly filter chart data
Four ways to resize a chart
How to align chart with cell grid
Group chart categories
How to add lines between stacked columns/bars [Excel charts]
Custom charts
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How to graph an equation
Build a comparison table/chart
Heat map yearly calendar
Advanced Gantt Chart Template
Sparklines
Win/Loss Column LineHighlight chart elements
Highlight a column in a stacked column chartHighlight a group of chart bars
Highlight a data series in a line chart
Highlight a column in a stacked column chart
Highlight a bar in a chart
Interactive charts
How to filter chart dataHover with mouse cursor to change stock in a candlestick chart
How to build an interactive map in Excel
Highlight group of values in an x y scatter chart programmatically
Use drop down lists and named ranges to filter chart values
How to use mouse hover on a worksheet [VBA]
How to create an interactive Excel chart [VBA]
Change chart series by clicking on data [VBA]
Change chart data range using a Drop Down List [VBA]
How to create a dynamic chart
Animate
Line chart Excel Bar Chart Excel chartAdvanced charts
Custom data labels in a chartImprove your X Y Scatter Chart with custom data labels
Label line chart series
How to position month and year between chart tick marks
How to add horizontal line to chart
Add pictures to a chart axis
How to color chart bars based on their values
Excel chart problem: Hard to read series values
Build a stock chart with two series
Change chart axis range programmatically
Change column/bar color in charts
Hide specific columns programmatically
Dynamic stock chart
How to replace columns with pictures in a column chart
Color chart columns based on cell color
Heat map using pictures
Dynamic Gantt charts
Stock charts
Build a stock chart with two seriesDynamic stock chart
Change chart axis range programmatically
How to create a stock chart
Excel categories
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