To create a surface plot, you 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:
Place the name of the matrix, function, or set of functions/vectors in the
placeholder at the bottom left of the
plot region. If you enter a set of function names, defining a parametric surface,
enclose them in parentheses.
Click outside the plot region, or press [Enter].
A perspective view of the surface is drawn as a two-dimensional grid lying
in three-dimensional space. Mathcad connects points on the surface with
gridlines, unless you specify otherwise. You can double-click on the plot to
change this and other formatting
options.
The surface 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. You can also set these outside
of the plot using the CreateMesh function.
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.
If you do not want Mathcad to attempt to interpolate intermediate points
on a surface, or you need to draw a space curve, use a scatter
plot instead. If you want level curves, use a contour
plot, or display contours on a backplane.
