Grapher is a software graphing calculator that comes bundled with the Apple Mac OS Xoperating system. It can graph 2-dimensional equations like , as well as 3-dimensional equations like (Cartan's umbrella, illustrated below).

Equations to be graphed can be entered in Cartesian form or in parametric form, polar coordinates, logarithmic, etc. The program automatically ``typesets'' the formulas as they are entered, for example, converting x^2 to or 1/x to . The program can create animations, and one can also move a graph or rotate it (just by dragging it, for 3D graphs; for 2D graphs one must first select the Move Tool).

In a default installation, the program is in the Utilities subfolder of the Applications folder. Mac OS 9 had a similar program, called Graphing Calculator, which was also capable of graphing 2D and 3D equations as well as animations.

Bibliography

1

Maria Langer, Visual Quickstart Guide: Mac OS 9.1. New York: Peachpit Press (2001): 107

2

David Pogue & Adam Goldstein, The Missing Manual: Switching to the Mac, Tiger Edition. Sebastopol: O'Reilly Media, Inc. (2005): 452 - 453