Often it is useful to construct a slider for controlling a numeric value. For example, if you wanted to create a graph of the line y = mx + b in which you can slide a point back and forth to control the values of m and b, you might want to set up sliders for m and b. To make a slider for m:
| 1. | Use the Line tool to construct a line. Label the two resulting points A and B. |
| 2. | Use the Point tool to construct point C on the line. |
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| 4. | Select and hide the line and point B, leaving only two points and the measured ratio. |
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| 5. | Construct a segment connecting A and C. |
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| 6. | Double-click the measured ratio with the Text tool, and set its label to m. Hide point A, and change the label of point C to m to match the label of the value. |
Your basic slider is complete. As you drag point m, the value changes accordingly.
You can vary this construction for a number of purposes.
| • | For positive values, use a ray instead of a line in step 1. |
| • | For values between 0 and 1, use a segment instead of a line in step 1. |
| • | For a different scale, change the distance from A to B, or multiply the slider value by some scaling factor. |
| • | For integer values, use the Calculator to round the value of the slider. |
You can also create a numeric value (a parameter) directly, using the Graph | New Parameter command. The advantage of the slider described here is that sliding the control point back and forth provides a powerful, visual way to change the value.
