On a TI-83 or 84, what does the T-Step mean in parametric mode?

Question

I have a TI-84, and when I go into parametric mode and look at the window there is Tstep, Tmin, and Tmax. Explain?

Answer 1

Tmin is the minimum value taken by the t variable; Tmax is the maximum value taken by the t variable; finally, tstep is the incruments of t that are evaluated and used to construct the graph: a t step of .1 would mean that the function is evaluated at t=0,.1,.2,.3.... and so on until reaching the tmax.

Answer 2

In parametric mode, the calculator will plot a parameter curve: for every number t, it calculates a point with coordinates x(t),y(t).



Of course, the calculator cannot calculate ALL points because there are infinitely many numbers.



Rather, it will start at Tmin, and in every step add Tstep, until it arrives at Tmax.



For instance, if Tmin = -2, Tmax = 4 and Tstep = 0.1, it will calculate the points belonging to

... t = -2.0, t = -1.9, t = -1.8, ... , t = 3.9, t = 4.0.

Answer 3

T step is the rate at which it draws a point.

If your T step is 1, it will connect the points t=1, t=2, t=3 etc.

If your T step is 2 it will connect t=2,4,6 etc

T min is the first point it draws. T max is the final point it draws.

So, if one wanted to graph sin(x) for example, you might want to use somthing like this

Tstep=pi/8

Tmin=-2pi

Tmax=2pi