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The resizable xFunctions phase plotter

Here is a quick summary of how to plot a direction field using this plotter:

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  1. Click on the button labeled "Launch xFunctions"
  2. When the plotting window appears, click and hold on the "main screen" bar at the top of the window and select "integral curves utility".
  3. To get started, enter dx/dt = 1 (near the bottom of the screen) -- this makes the t variable and the x variable the same.
  4. Enter your equation on the last line, for example dy/dt = y or dy/dt =y +x. (Remember that you have made t and x equal, so the second example is really dy/dt = y +t. Unfortunately the constraints of the computer program only allow the variables x and y to be entered.
  5. If you want, you can also enter pairs of equations such as dx/dt = x +y and dy/dt = x-y. This allows you to plot simple examples of simultaneous differential equations.

More instructions for using xFunctions


Last updated: Thursday, Ausgust 31, 2000