Previous Next

When I was studying O and A level maths there was only one way to produce a graph of a function. That was to mark sufficient points to elicit the shape of the curve. It was painstaking work and often inaccurate owing to the unsteadiness of my hand.

Micros have now brought about virtual accuracy to this work, plotting and labelling axes or marking out a grid remains very time-consuming. This package, however, allows the function to be input, suitable axis limits to be applied and...there is your graph, perfectly drawn before your very eyes. A quick plot feature is also available which uses pre-set X and Y axes. This allows an approximation to be gained quite easily and quickly.

More advanced graphs make use of parametric expressions, with X and Y both being defined in terms of a third variable. This again is catered for, and the same range of options available. All through the most instructive booklet there is a rich variety of suggestions and questions which will quickly make the potential of this program easily understood.

The second part of the tape provides testing in the shapes of curves, with a multiple-choice format. This again covers an extensive range including trigonometrical functions, straight line curves and quadratic and cubic equations.

Any student from O level to post A level will find this suite of programs an ideal complement to both private study and revision.

Phil Tayler