Log and Log-Log Graphing

This notebook is a modification of Paul Wellin's EngineeringDemo.nb.

Download this example as a Mathematica notebook.

LogPlot is one of many advanced functions that reside in one of the many external packages that come with Mathematica. These packages may be loaded into Mathematica as their functionality is needed. A style guide to use as you begin to write your own packages is also provided.

Setup

Load the Graphics package. This is done using the command Get, <<, in Mathematica.

Define the function to be graphed. This is done in a format similar to the popular standards and traditional written formula criteria. The name of the function is on the left-hand side of the equation, and the variables of the function are represented with an underscore attached. Everything to the right of := defines the function. For instance, defined below is a function .

is a function of . So that Mathematica knows the definitions of , you evaluate the cell. Now, if you evaluate this function at some value, its value will be returned by Mathematica.

You can define a function as a combination of Mathematica functions.

You can evaluate the function across a collection of values and save it in a data variable using Mathematica's function Table.

Log Plot of a Function

Take the data that you collected, and produce a visualization of this data using LogPlot.

You can also add options to many Mathematica functions. The current option settings for a particular function can be viewed by using the command Options.

Now create a log plot of this function, setting a few options for the graphic output. Notice that you assign the plot a name plot1 in order to refer to it later.