ExamView: Polar Graphs in ExamView

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Inserting a Polar Graph

Polar graphs can be inserted into a question, answer, matching group, rationale, feedback or narrative.

The graph pictured shows the polar curve r = e ^ (theta / 10) and the domain is from 0 to 5 * pi:

1. Position the cursor at the location where you want to insert the graph.
2. Click Insert from the menu bar, mouse over Graph and select Polar.

   A polar graph with default properties will be inserted, and the Format Graph – Polar window will be displayed.

   The Functions tab lets you add, edit, and delete items from the graph. These items include f(theta), and Point (r, theta).

   The Axes tab lets you change attributes of the polar axis such as the scale (units per tick), ticks per inch, and line styles.

   The View tab lets you change the size and background of the graph, and whether it is centered on a certain value or anchored at the lower left to a certain value.

3. Click the Functions tab, select the type of item you want to add from the drop-down menu and click New.
4. To edit existing items, select the description of the item and click Edit (or double-click the description).
5. To delete an item, select the description of the item and click Delete.
6. To change the order of the items on the graph, click the item you want to reorder and drag it to the correct position.
7. Click the Axes tab, enter a label to display at the right of the polar axis or leave the label blank. By default, the label is r. Click Font to set the font characteristics of the label. The font characteristics used for the axis label are also used for the tick labels.
   NOTE

   Variables cannot be used as values for the axis label, units per tick, ticks per inch, ticks per label, width, height, or baseline. Variables can be used to define most of the attributes for the items added to the graph.

8. Set the scale (units per tick) for the graph. Units per tick must be greater than zero.
9. Set the ticks per inch. Value must be between 1 and 50.
10. Set the ticks per label. Value must be between 1 and 99.
11. Set the axis width. You can choose to hide the axis altogether, or display the axis with a thin or a thick line.
12. Set the axis color. To change the color of the polar axis label or the tick mark labels, click Font.
13. By default, the polar axis displays tick marks and tick-mark labels. Show or hide these using the Show tick marks and Label tick marks check boxes.
14. Click Zoom In and Zoom Out to quickly change the units per tick. Zooming in or out automatically applies changes to the graph.
15. Click Clear to quickly remove the axis label, tick marks, tick mark labels, and background.
16. Click the View tab, enter a width, height, and baseline (in inches) for the graph. You can also manually set these values from the editing dialog by clicking and dragging the resize handles.
17. Select a background style for the graph. The background can be either blank or lined. If you select a lined background, you can also select a line color. By default, the background displays light gray lines.
18. Select set graph center or set graph left. Enter x, y coordinate values in the appropriate section. Even though the coordinates for a polar graph are not in x, y coordinates, this system is still used for positioning the graph.
19. Click the Web tab, to enter alternate text to be displayed when the student points to the graph while taking an internet or LAN-based test.
20. Click Apply to view your changes in the editing window or click OK to record your changes and close the Format Graph – Polar window.
    NOTE

    If you inadvertently apply changes that you do not want to the graph, close the Format Graph – Polar window, click Edit from the menu bar and select Undo. This will cancel all changes made while the dialog was displayed, including inserting new items.
    
     

    f(theta)

21. Insert a polar graph into a question, answer, matching group, rationale, feedback or narrative.

    To edit an existing graph, double-click the graph or click Format from the menu bar and select Format Graph.

22. Click the Functions tab, select f(theta) from the drop-down menu and click New.
23. Enter a function for r (the absolute distance from the point to the origin) using theta (the angle, in radians moving counterclockwise, from the horizontal axis) as the variable. The example shows the function 4 * sin(theta * 3). Use the same algorithmic syntax used to define variables.
    NOTE

    Variables can be used anywhere in the function definition or as values for the domain.

    Click the Add from List button next to the function definition to display a list of currently defined variables, constants, and keywords.

24. Enter the domain of theta. The default domain for functions of theta is from zero to 2 pi.
25. To display the function only if a certain condition is met, enter the condition in the field following Display function (only if ).
26. To change the drawing style for the function, click the Pattern drop-down menu .
27. To change the color of the function, click the Color drop-down menu .
28. Click Apply to view your changes in the editing window or click OK to record your changes and close the New Function – f(theta) window.

Point (r, theta)

1. Insert a polar graph into a question, answer, matching group, rationale, feedback or narrative.

   To edit an existing graph, double-click the graph or click Format from the menu bar and select Format Graph.

2. Click the Functions tab, select Point(r,theta) from the drop-down menu and click New.
3. Enter the coordinate of the point in terms of r (the absolute distance from the point to the origin) and theta (the angle, in radians moving counterclockwise, from the horizontal axis).
   NOTE

   Variables can be used as values for r, theta, and the label.

   Values for r must be positive.

4. Select a point style. The point styles can be none, solid, or hollow.
5. Select a label style. You can have no label, use the coordinates of the point as the label, or optionally enter a text label. Click Font to set the font characteristics of the label. If the program determines that the theta coordinate of the point is a multiple of pi (or if a multiple of theta equals pi, as in pi / 4), the display of the theta value will be the pi symbol (π).
6. Select a label position. You can select where the label appears in relation to the point.
7. Optionally, to display the point only if a certain condition is met, enter the condition in the field following Display point (only if ).
8. Click the Color drop-down menu to change the color of the point. To change the color of the label, click Font.
9. Click Apply to view your changes in the editing window or click OK to record your changes and close the New Point window.