Graph Plotter
Plot mathematical functions on an interactive canvas with zoom, pan, and multi-function overlay
Functions
Supported: +, -, *, /, ^, sin, cos, tan, sqrt, abs, log, ln, exp, pi, e
Axis Range
Key points
Roots (zeros)
- y:x = -9.4248
- y:x = -6.2832
- y:x = -3.1416
- y:x = 0
- y:x = 3.1416
- y:x = 6.2832
- y:x = 9.4248
Value table
| x | y |
|---|---|
| -10 | 0.544 |
| -7.5 | -0.938 |
| -5 | 0.959 |
| -2.5 | -0.598 |
| 0 | 0 |
| 2.5 | 0.598 |
| 5 | -0.959 |
| 7.5 | 0.938 |
| 10 | -0.544 |
About this tool
The graph plotter is a free tool for students that instantly draws a function such as y = x^2 or sin(x) as soon as you enter it. You can overlay several functions at once to compare them, and freely zoom in and out of the view. It is ideal for building intuition about how functions behave, checking homework graphs, and comparing functions side by side.
How to use
- 1 Type a function expression (for example x^2 or sin(x)) into the input field.
- 2 Use "add function" to overlay several graphs at the same time.
- 3 Adjust the x-axis and y-axis ranges to zoom into the region you care about.
- 4 Use zoom and reset to see the overall shape of the graph.
How it works
The graph of a function is the set of points whose height (y) corresponds to each input (x), joined into a curve. The horizontal axis is the input and the vertical axis is the output. When reading a graph, look at the domain (the range of x values allowed) and the range (the y values produced). A linear function y = ax + b is a straight line where a is the slope and b the intercept. A quadratic y = ax2 is a parabola; sine and cosine rise and fall periodically like waves; an exponential y = a^x grows rapidly; and a logarithm grows slowly. Points where the graph crosses the x-axis (y = 0) correspond to the solutions of an equation, and peaks and troughs mark maximum and minimum values. Overlaying functions lets you see where their values are equal at the intersection points.
Frequently asked questions
Which functions are supported?
Common math functions including polynomials (such as x^2), trigonometric functions (sin, cos, tan), exponentials and logarithms (exp, log), and square roots (sqrt).
What are the domain and range?
The domain is the set of x values allowed, and the range is the y values produced. For example, log(x) is defined only for x > 0 and has no value for x at or below 0.
Why overlay several functions?
At an intersection the two functions share the same value, so you can confirm equation solutions visually and compare how fast each one grows.
What does a crossing of the x-axis mean?
It is an x value where y = 0, matching the solution of setting the function to zero. For a parabola, those are the roots of the quadratic equation.
Related tools and uses
To find intersections and solutions exactly, the equation solver is helpful. For working with percentage changes, the percentage calculator is useful too.