functionVisualizer.sea.hqx

                     The Function Visualizer
                          Mark Bridger
                     Northeastern University
                        bridger@neu.edu
                             and
                          Hubert Hohn
                   Massachusetts College of Art

From the author's description:
"The Function Visualizer (FV) is a software implementation of 
mapping diagrams, with the added feature of animation."  

Two presentations of the function are given simultaneously - a 
mapping diagram and a plot with the derivative.  The mapping diagram 
is depicted with the domain and range drawn as vertical lines and
then at small intervals, points in the domain are connected to
their images in the range.  As the mouse is moved vertically, 
the line connecting the domain point at that height is drawn to 
its image in real time.  Specific points can be emphasized by 
clicking on them.  Then a dotted line is constructed between the
point and its image.  All of this is color coded based on
monotonic portions of the derivative so that the correspondence
is evident.

The package includes documentation as well as a TeX paper by
Bridger presenting advantages in depicting functions in this
manner.

The program does not create a window on the desktop when it
runs.  This would be a good improvement in an otherwise excellent
program.

This program was tested on a PowerMac 7100 running system 7.5.1 
with no difficulties.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Location in Mathematics Archives:
     Anonymous FTP:
        /mac/calculus
        /mac/collegeAlgebra
        /mac/graphingAids
        /mac/precalculus

     Gopher:
       (First select "Software" then "Macintosh software arranged
        by subjects")
        Calculus / Function Visualizer
        College Algebra / Function Visualizer
        Graphing Aids / Function Visualizer
        Precalculus / Function Visualizer

--------------------------------------------------------------