Functions of Two Variables
This page describes the plotting of surfaces defined by an equation of
two variables, z=f(x,y), for which the ranges of x and y are explicitly
defined. The basic draw command for this function utilizes either the
uncompiled function or compiled function format. The general format for an
uncompiled function is:
draw(f(x,y), x=a..b, y=c..d)
where a..b and c..d are segments defining the intervals [a,b] and [c,d]
over which the variables x and y span. In this case, the function is not
compiled until the draw command is executed. Here is an example:
In the case of a compiled function, the function is named and compiled
independently. This is useful if you intend to use a function often, or
if the function is long and complex. The following line shows a function
whose parameters are of the type SmallFloat. The function is compiled and
stored by Axiom when it is entered.
Once the function is compiled the draw command only needs the name of the
function to execute. Here is a compiled function example:
Note that the parameter ranges do not take the variable names as in the
case of uncompiled functions. The variables are entered in the order in
which they are defined in the function specificationl. In this case the
first range specifies the x-variable and the second range specifies the
y-variable.
