What can I use to graph a complex function?

[raptor13]

I'm in need of some graphing software that will let me work with some relatively complex formulae, miniscule numbers, and hopefully will do derivatives, integrals, and the rest of the good math stuff. Free is good too. I tried the WindowsXP PowerToy Calculator which, every time I try to show a graph in a window, crashes. I haven't found a way to get Excel to graph a given function either. If that can be done, I'd like to know how. Do tell!


In case anyone cares to know, I'm working with the Lennard-Jones potential for fluids. As such, the numbers I'll be dealing with are on the order of 10^-23 J/K, 10 and fewer Angstroms, and so forth.



Please help me make graphs! Thanks.

 

[zayened]

try maple

 

[notfred]

or mathematica

 

[Stojakapimp]

or matlab

 

[gopunk]

what they said

 

[Ameesh]

i bet ya excel could probably do it.

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: Ameesh
i bet ya excel could probably do it.

 

[RossGr]

IF you want surfaces Excel is not you tool, but for your run of the mill 1d functions it does an adequate job. Simply fill a column with the points you wish to plot, then fill an adjacent column with the function, of course replace your varialble with a reference to the column containing your plot points. select both columns (you can even plot multible functions for the SAME plot points) choose a SCATTER plot and you should be seeing your graph.

Derivatives and Integrals will probably cost $$.