EZ Graph - Secant Function, Vertical Scaling and Translation Variables

Click the 'Draw graph' button in the lower left corner of the EZ Graph app. Explanation below.

Here is the conventional notation for these secant functions and the translation to the computer language type of notation used with EZ Graph:

 

f1(x) = (a)sec(x) +  - hk translates to EZ Graph as f1(x) = a * (1/cos(x - h)) + k
f2(x) = sec(x) translates to EZ Graph as f2(x) = 1/cos(x)

 

Since EZ Graph has no built in secant function (most graphic calculators do not), we substitute the reciprocal of the cosine function (1/cos(x)) for the secant function (sec(x)).

Notice that conventional notation does not require a multiplication operator (between (a) and sec(x - h)) while the EZ Graph notation does (the * between a and (1/cos(x - h))).

Also note that no parentheses are required to force precedence. Multiplication proceeds before addition automatically, and that's just what we want.

 


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