SYSTEMS OF EQUATIONS Solving Graphically (Page 5 of 8)

Another method of graphically solving this system of equations is to define a third function d(x) which is the difference of the two functions y = (2-x)/3 and y = x^2-1. In this example, d(x) = (2-x)/3-(x^2-1). The solutions of the system correspond to the zeros of this difference function.

Since we have already entered the two functions as Y1 and Y2, define the difference function as d(x) = Y1-Y2. Let's turn off the functions Y1 and Y2 (unhighlight the equal signs), then enter the difference function as Y3 and graph it.

 Y= key.
 Left arrow key. ENTER key. Down arrow key. ENTER key. Down arrow key. Right arrow key.
 VARS key. [Y-VARS] 1: menu selection. 1: menu selection. Minus key. VARS key.
 [Y-VARS] 1: menu selection. 2: menu selection.

 GRAPH key.

 Calculator screen image. Calculator screen image.
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