Graph paper
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Regular graphing paper (upper); Log graphing paper (lower). |
Graph paper or quad-ruled paper is writing paper that is printed with fine lines making up a regular grid. The lines are often used as guides for plotting mathematical functions or experimental data and drawing diagrams. It is commonly found in mathematics and engineering education and laboratory notebooks.
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[edit] Format and Availability of Graph Paper
Graph paper is available either as loose leaf paper or bound in notebooks. It is becoming less common as computer plotting programs have supplanted many of the former uses of graph paper, much as calculators have supplanted slide rules.
[edit] Types of Graph Paper
[edit] Square or Cartesian
Graphs showing grids are sometimes called Cartesian graphs because the square can be used to map measurements onto a Cartesian (x vs. y)coordinate system.
- Quad paper is a common form of graph paper with a sparse grid printed in light blue or gray and right to the edge of the paper. This is often four squares to the inch for work not needing too much detail. It is sometimes referred to as quadrille paper.
- Engineering Paper - Traditionally printed on light green or tan paper. Each page has an unprinted margin. In the US, some engineering professors require student homework to be completed on engineering paper.
- It is also available without lines but with dots at the positions where the lines would intersect.
[edit] Other types
- Logarithmic - These have rectangles drawn in varying widths corresponding to an logarithmic scales for semilog graphs or log-log graphs
- Polar Coordinate - These are concentric circles divided into small arcs or 'pie wedges' to allow plotting in polar coordinates.
- Isometric graph paper or 3D graph paper - This is a triangular graph paper which uses a series of three guidelines forming a 60° grid of small triangles. The triangles are arranged in groups of six to make hexagons. The name suggests the use for isometric views or pseudo-three dimensional views. Among other functions, they can be used in the design of trianglepoint embroidery.
- Hexagonal - This shows regular hexagons instead of squares. These can be used to map geometric tiled or tesselated designs among other uses.
- Probability - Another graph paper with rectangles of variable widths. It is designed so that "the graph of the normal distribution function is represented on it by a straight line."
[edit] Graph Paper for Gaming
Graph paper is also used for gaming purposes, such as laying out virtual worlds in roleplaying games and designing new levels in grid-based games such as Minesweeper.
[edit] External links
- Graph Paper Print free graph paper (in pdf format), and other graphs/charts.
- GraphTablet – Free program to print graph paper.
- Log Paper – A free program to build and print your own graphs.
- More complex graph paper – The web-based "multi width generator" is the most versatile.
- Graph Paper Free 1/4 inch graph paper (in pdf format)
