Mathematica: Plot using abstract variables instead of set values

[rynlee]

Hi All,

Does anyone know of a way to make plots in mathematica in terms of variables?

For example, suppose you had a function sin(a*x), and you wanted to plot it but did not want to set a to a specific value, the purpose being to have the graph report multiples of a, not specific numbers.

Usually I just throw in reasonable dummy values for whatever function, but it would be nice to be able to show nice clean fractions on a plot.

Thanks for any ideas!

 

[Simon_Tyler]

You just have to rescale the x-axis. So plot Sin[x], but label the plot sin(a x) and the x-axis in units of x/a.

Try

Plot[Sin[x], {x, -4, 4}, AxesLabel -> {x/a, y == Sin[a x]}, 
                         Ticks -> {{-Pi, -Pi/2, 0, Pi/2, Pi}, {-1, 0, 1}}]

See the attached image.