User interface for graphical specification of functions

摘要

A graphing calculator having a user interface that allows the user to easily specify a mathematical function. The user interface allows the user to specify a constant function, a linear function, or a non-linear function in a simplified input format. The user interface can also be implemented on devices that have limited input and output capability. An embodiment of the present invention is a graphing calculator, which allows the user to easily input a population growth rate function. The user interface of the present invention calculator helps the student to more readily adjust a function and observe the result of the adjustment. Similarly, other embodiments include the same user interface functionality in a software application package that is executed on a computer or graphing calculator.