Creating a 3D Bar Plot

To create a 3D bar plot, you will either need to define a function of two variables, a matrix of z-coordinates, or three vectors specifying the x, y, and z coordinates. You can also create a parametric, vector-valued function to specify x, y, and z coordinates. Then:

1. Choose Insert > Graph > Bar Plot to create a plot region.
2. Place the name of the matrix, function, or set of functions/vectors in the placeholder to the bottom left of the plot region. If you enter a set of function names, defining a parametric surface, enclose them in parentheses.
3. Click outside the plot region, or press [Enter].

A perspective view of the data is drawn as a two-dimensional grid lying flat in three-dimensional space. Each matrix element is represented as a column at a specified height above or below this grid. You can double-click on the plot to modify the appearance of the bars and make other formatting changes. To control the layout and spacing of the bars, use the Special tab.

The bar plot of a function is created using default ranges and grids for the independent variables. To change them, double-click on the graph and use the options in the QuickPlot Data tab of the 3D Plot Format dialog box.

Notes:

• A plotted matrix must have at least two rows and two columns.
• Complex or imaginary points are not plotted. To plot the real or complex part of a point, use the Re and Im functions which separate out the real or imaginary parts.
• You can annotate 3D plots using text or graphics.
• To create a 2D bar chart, create an X-Y plot and change the "Type" for the Trace Settings to "Bar."

QuickSheet