How to graph mathematical functions (in Python, using SymPy)
Task
Assume we have a mathematical formula and we would like to plot a graph of it using the standard Cartesian coordinate system.
Related tasks:
- How to graph curves that are not functions
- How to graph mathematical sequences
- How to graph a two-variable function as a surface
Solution
This answer assumes you have imported SymPy as follows.
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from sympy import * # load all math functions
init_printing( use_latex='mathjax' ) # use pretty math output
You can write a formula and plot it in just a few lines of code.
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var( 'x' )
formula = x**2 - 5*x + 9
plot( formula )
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<sympy.plotting.plot.Plot at 0x7f4b97b97520>
If you want to elimiate the extra bit of text after the graph,
just assign the plot to a variable, as in p = plot( formula ).
By default, the graph always covers $x=-10$ to $x=10$. You can change those limits as follows.
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plot( formula, (x,1,3) ) # just plot from x=1 to x=3
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<sympy.plotting.plot.Plot at 0x7f4bbc097550>
You can also plot more than one function on the same graph.
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formula2 = 10*sin(x) + 20
plot( formula, formula2 )
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<sympy.plotting.plot.Plot at 0x7f4b2dcd9c00>
Content last modified on 24 July 2023.
See a problem? Tell us or edit the source.
Contributed by Nathan Carter (ncarter@bentley.edu)