Graph a function
Put the function in your calculator Display the graph of a function correctly Graph the sum of functions

Suppose you want to have a good graphical understanding of the function:

\[ f(x) = \frac{x^4 - x^2 + x - 1}{x^5 - 3x}. \]

Put the function in your calculator

  1. Create a new document, select Add Graphs.
  2. Enter your function after f1(x)=. Then, press Enter Icon.

    Function Input Screenshot

Display the graph of a function correctly

Tip 1: Make sure only the functions you are using are displayed. To deactivate/activate a function’s display, select Menu Icon, go to the function you want to activate/deactivate, and check/uncheck the square.

  1. Choose an appropriate window. Press Menu Icon and select Window/Zoom > Window Settings. Enter appropriate values for Xmin, Xmax, Ymin, and Ymax. Choose an XScale approximately twenty times smaller than the gap between Xmin and Xmax. Usually, we set XScale to powers of 10.
  2. Choose Ymin and Ymax to be slightly beyond the range of your desired y-values. If you do not know which y-values to choose, press Menu Icon and select Window/Zoom > Zoom - Fit to make the y-values graph pretilly. It should display this:

    XScale Adjustment Screenshot

  3. To display a specific part of the graph (here: the first local minimum), press Menu Icon and select Window / Zoom > Zoom - Box. and select Use the arrows to move to a point on the screen that you want the top left corner of the screen to be, and press Menu Icon

    XScale Adjustment Screenshot

  4. If you wish to zoom out in order to zoom in to another part of the graph, press Menu Icon, select Window / Zoom > Zoom - Out.

Graph the sum of functions

  1. Enter the two functions after f1(x)= and f2(x)=.
  2. Enter a third function f3(x)=f1(x)+f2(x). Uncheck f1(x) and f2(x). Press Enter Icon. The sum of the two functions is displayed.

    Sum of Functions Screenshot

The same procedure can be used for subtraction, multiplication, or division of two functions.