Discussion 15: Plotting Functions of Two Variables in Maple

This discussion is a computer laboratory which introduces the basic three dimensional plotting commands in Maple. The discussion is in the form of a Maple worksheet which ideally should be distributed to the students electronically. As they move through the worksheet, students are introduced to the commands plot3D, contourplot and densityplot. It is assumed that the students are familiar with Maple worksheets before beginning this discussion.

In the exercises, students are asked to analyze the plots of three functions of increasing complexity. The questions focus their attention on domains containing the extreme points and saddle points of the functions and require that students manipulate the plots in order to carefully describe the function in a neighborhood of these points. Most of this discussion should be completed in one class period with the remainder assigned for homework.