Explore Contour Lines in Geogebra: Drawing and Finding Functions

[mathmari]

Hey!

I am looking at the following:

1. We have the function $f(x,y)=y-x^2-1$. Write the appropriate commands in Geogebra that draw a contour line with $f(x,y)=\frac{3709}{2000}$.

Could you give me a hint what command we have to use here? Do we just plot $y-x^2-1=\frac{1374}{2000}$ ? (Wondering)
2. Give the graph of the below functions in Geogebra and find the countour lines $f(x,y)=c$ where $c$ is in the interval $[0,10]$ and each contour line has to have distance from the next one $0.4$.

• $f(x,y)=\cos (xy)$
• $f(x,y)=\frac{2}{\sqrt{x^2+y^2}}+\frac{2}{\sqrt{(x-1)^2+y^2}}$

Do we use for that the command "Sequence(\cos (xy)=c, c, 0, 10)" ? (Wondering)

 

[I like Serena]

Hey!

I am looking at the following:

1. We have the function $f(x,y)=y-x^2-1$. Write the appropriate commands in Geogebra that draw a contour line with $f(x,y)=\frac{3709}{2000}$.

Could you give me a hint what command we have to use here? Do we just plot $y-x^2-1=\frac{1374}{2000}$ ?

Hey mathmari!

A contour line is a curve on a surface $z=f(x,y)$ for a fixed $z$ isn't it? (Wondering)

But if we specify $y-x^2-1=\frac{1374}{2000}$, we do not get such a curve do we?
Instead we are getting a different surface.
Makes sense, because we have effectively specified an equation in x and y without specifying z.
So Geogebra shows a surface that satisfies the equation for x and y, and shows it for any z.
It's a parabolic cylinder. (Worried)

I think that instead we need the intersection of the surface $z=f(x,y)$ and the plane $z=\frac{3709}{2000}$, don't we?
Can we do that? (Wondering)

Btw, should the constant be $\frac{3709}{2000}$ or $\frac{1374}{2000}$? (Nerd)

2. Give the graph of the below functions in Geogebra and find the countour lines $f(x,y)=c$ where $c$ is in the interval $[0,10]$ and each contour line has to have distance from the next one $0.4$.

• $f(x,y)=\cos (xy)$
• $f(x,y)=\frac{2}{\sqrt{x^2+y^2}}+\frac{2}{\sqrt{(x-1)^2+y^2}}$

Do we use for that the command "Sequence(\cos (xy)=c, c, 0, 10)" ?

We can use $\operatorname{Sequence}$ yes.
We'll have to specify an object that actually represents a curve though.
And shouldn't we specify a step size as well? (Wondering)

 

[mathmari]

A contour line is a curve on a surface $z=f(x,y)$ for a fixed $z$ isn't it? (Wondering)

But if we specify $y-x^2-1=\frac{1374}{2000}$, we do not get such a curve do we?
Instead we are getting a different surface.
Makes sense, because we have effectively specified an equation in x and y without specifying z.
So Geogebra shows a surface that satisfies the equation for x and y, and shows it for any z.
It's a parabolic cylinder. (Worried)

I think that instead we need the intersection of the surface $z=f(x,y)$ and the plane $z=\frac{3709}{2000}$, don't we?
Can we do that? (Wondering)

Btw, should the constant be $\frac{3709}{2000}$ or $\frac{1374}{2000}$? (Nerd)

Oh it should be $\frac{3709}{2000}$ and not $\frac{1374}{2000}$, the second one was a typo. (Tmi) So do you mean the following?

View attachment 9598

(Wondering)

 

[I like Serena]

So do you mean the following?

Yep. (Nod)

 

[mathmari]

Yep. (Nod)

Ok, great! So 1. is done.

Let's consider question 2.

Do we maybe use the command "Sequence(Intersect(f,g), c, 0, 10, 0.4)" where $f(x,y)=\cos (xy)$ and $g(x,y)=c$ ? (Wondering)

 

[I like Serena]

Let's consider question 2.

Do we maybe use the command "Sequence(Intersect(f,g), c, 0, 10, 0.4)" where $f(x,y)=\cos (xy)$ and $g(x,y)=c$ ?

Well... does it work? (Wondering)

Your f is not actually the intended surface in 3D is it? (Worried)

 

[mathmari]

Well... does it work? (Wondering)

Your f is not actually the intended surface in 3D is it? (Worried)

I tried the following, but something is wrong:

View attachment 9599

What do I have to change? (Wondering)

 

[I like Serena]

I tried the following, but something is wrong:

What do I have to change?

The $g: z=c,\,0\le c\le 10$ doesn't seem to be understood. (Worried)

The $c$ should really be tied to a $\operatorname{Sequence}$.

How about $\operatorname{Sequence}(\operatorname{IntersectPath}(f,z=c), c, 0, 10, 0.4)$? (Wondering)

 

[mathmari]

The $g: z=c,\,0\le c\le 10$ doesn't seem to be understood. (Worried)

The $c$ should really be tied to a $\operatorname{Sequence}$.

How about $\operatorname{Sequence}(\operatorname{IntersectPath}(f,z=c), c, 0, 10, 0.4)$? (Wondering)

Ahh ok! With this command we get:

View attachment 9600 For the other function $f(x,y)=\frac{2}{\sqrt{x^2+y^2}}+\frac{2}{\sqrt{(x-1)^2+y^2}}$ we get:

View attachment 9601

(Malthe)

 

[I like Serena]

Ahh ok! With this command we get:

For the other function $f(x,y)=\frac{2}{\sqrt{x^2+y^2}}+\frac{2}{\sqrt{(x-1)^2+y^2}}$ we get:
(Malthe)

Nice! (Happy)

 

[mathmari]

Nice! (Happy)

Thank you for your help! (Yes)