Piecewise Linear & Quadratic Sketcher
- Author:
- Judah L Schwartz
- Topic:
- Algebra
In this applet you can sketch functions on a fixed domain [between the
RED dots]. The domain is divided into up to six regions.
In the right hand panel you can shape the sketch of a function that
is either constant, linear or parabolic in each region.
This may strike you as a rather primitive way to sketch a function - shouldn't
one simply be able to draw a function freehand? This mode of function
sketching is motivated by pedagogic considerations.
The reason for this constricted mode of sketching is to force users to identify
explicitly whether their function is increasing or decreasing in any given region
of the domain as well as to be explicit about how the change in the function is
behaving in that region.
See notes below the image for details of using the applet
.