Math Help - z axis.

1. z axis.

Hi everyone!

So I have to do this problem for homework. However, my book doesn't show us how to draw a graph that involves a z-axis as well as an x and y-axis. It assumes that you know how, and I haven't done this before so I would appreciate any help.

2. It's hard to say without an example... There are different ways of doing it, or at least to my memory anyway.

Assuming you know what the x-y axes look like... now lay it flat on the table, and then draw the an axis coming out of the origin pointing directly out of the table, that's your positive z-axis. If you're still confused, go here: Cartesian coordinate system - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

* Get a graphing program that does 3-D Graphing... there are free ones on the net.

* Sub in z = 0, see what the x-y curve looks like, draw it on the z=0 plane; then repeat with z = 1, z = 2... etc... until you get a feel of what it looks like I guess...

It'd be easier to explain with an equation: $y - x - z = 0$ is the equation of the plane...

z = 0, y - x - 0 = 0, this is a line y = x
z = 1, y - x - 1 = 0, this is a line y = x + 1
z = 2, y - x - 2 = 0, this is a line y = x + 2

By drawing these lines, you'll eventually see that this is a flat plane... which isn't very interesting... there are funky graphs out there.

Perhaps giving us the equation, we might be able to tell you.