Instructions For

Make Table and Curve Fitting Applet

http://cms.uhd.edu/faculty/ongards/CollegeAlgebra.htm

Directions: Use the computer to plot the following table and to draw a line that fits the data.

X	2.3	2.1	1.8	1.9	2.5	2.8	1.99	1.9	2.25	2.39	2.37	2.1	2.5	2.5
Y	140	160	170	175	130	120	160	170	150	140	130	152	134	122

Step 1 Go to Dr. Ongard’s College Algebra web page, http://cms.uhd.edu/faculty/ongards/CollegeAlgebra.htm, and select the Make Table option.

The following window should appear on your screen.

Step 2 Enter the table given above into the computer.

In the middle of the page, click the mouse cursor in the box under X and enter the first input 2.3, then click the cursor in the box under Y and enter the matching output 140. Enter the rest of the table into the computer by moving the cursor box-by-box as you did for the first pair. Make certain that you press enter in the last Y-value box; otherwise the last point will not be plotted.

Step 3 Plot the table.

The Graphing Window must be set before plotting the table. You must specify the largest and smallest values on the x-axis and the largest and smallest values for the y-axis. By inspection of the original table, one possible choice is

xMin 1.65 xMax 2.95 yMin 100 yMax 200

Enter these values into computer.

(The X-scale and Y-scale values are set by the computer.)

Now click on the Plot Table option on the lower left side of the screen.

Step 4 Draw a line that fits the data.

Make certain that the Linear option is selected on the far right side of the screen under Models. If not, just click on the word Linear to select it.

Then click on the box labeled Fit Curve at the bottom of the column under Models.

Step 5 Trace along the fitting line.

Click your mouse cursor anywhere on the graph. Then use the left and right arrow keys to surf along the line - the coordinates of the point appear in the upper left corner of the graph.

Step 6 Get a printout.

Click and hold your mouse cursor on File in the upper left part of the screen, move your cursor down to the Print option and release your cursor. A new window appears, just click on OK to get a printout. Or, just click your cursor on the printer icon on the toolbar to get a printout. (If your print-out does not show everything showing on the screen, you may get a better printout by first selecting File, Page setup¸ Paper size, Landscape and then printing the file.)