Graphing

Parametric Grapher

A parametric curve gives both coordinates as functions of a parameter t. Enter x(t) and y(t) and a t range; the calculator samples 600 points along the interval and plots the curve with an equal aspect ratio so circles look round.

Parametric Grapher

Plot a parametric curve (x(t), y(t)) over an interval in t.

Try:
AnswerParametric curve sampled at 601 points
-1-0.80-0.60-0.40-0.20-0.000.200.400.600.8011.20-1-0.80-0.60-0.40-0.20-0.000.200.400.600.8011.20xy
  1. x(t)cos(t)
  2. y(t)sin(t)
  3. Ranget ∈ [0, 6.28]
  4. Endpointst = 0 → (1, 0), t = 6.28 → (0.999995, -0.0031853)

Frequently asked questions

What variable should I use?

Use t for both x(t) and y(t). Other letters are treated as unknown function names.

How are the axes scaled?

With equal aspect ratio — one unit on x is one unit on y — so a circle stays circular and not elliptical.

Can the t range exceed 2π?

Yes. A larger range simply samples more of the curve; for closed curves like (cos t, sin t) it just retraces the same shape.