<chapter id="introduction">
<title>Introduction</title>

<para>&kmplot; is a mathematical function plotter for the &kde;
Desktop.  It has a powerful built-in parser.  You can plot different
functions simultaneously and combine them to build new
functions.</para>

<screenshot>
<screeninfo>Examples</screeninfo>
<mediaobject>
<imageobject>
<imagedata fileref="threeplots.png" format="PNG"/>
</imageobject>
<textobject>
<phrase>Examples</phrase>
</textobject>
</mediaobject>
</screenshot>

<para>&kmplot; supports parametric functions and functions in
polar coordinates. Several grid modes are supported. Plots may be
printed with high precision in the correct scale.</para>

<para>&kmplot; also provides some numerical and visual features like:
<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para>Filling and calculating
the area between the plot and the first axis</para>
</listitem>
<listitem><para>Finding maximum and
minimum values</para>
</listitem>
<listitem><para>Changing function parameters dynamically</para>
</listitem>
<listitem><para>Plotting
derivatives and integral functions.</para>
</listitem>
</itemizedlist>

These features help in learning the
relationship between mathematical functions and their graphical
representation in a coordinate system.</para>

</chapter>


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