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📚 Modeling, Functions, and Graphs
Chapters ▾
1 Functions and Their Graphs2 Modeling with Functions3 Power Functions4 Exponential Functions5 Logarithmic Functions6 Quadratic Functions7 Polynomial and Rational Functions8 Linear Systems9 Sequences and Series10 Algebra Skills Refresher11 Using a Graphing Calculator12 Using a GeoGebra Calculator App13 Glossary14 Properties of Numbers15 Geometry formulas16 GNU Free Documentation License

11.5 Making a Table

The table feature gives us a convenient tool for evaluating expressions. There are two steps to making a table:

  1. Entering the equation
  2. Setting the Table features

Using the Auto Option

If we want a table with evenly spaced x -values, we use the Automatic setting.

  1. Press Y=, clear any previous entries, and enter the expression or expressions you want to evaluate.
  2. Press 2nd WINDOW (TBLSET) to access the Table Setup menu. Enter the first x -value after TblStart = , and the x -increment after Δ T b l = . Highlight Auto for both the Independent and Dependent variables.
  3. Finally, press 2nd GRAPH (TABLE) to see the table. You can use the arrows to scroll up and down the table. Figure shows the Table Setup and the resulting table for y = 5 − x 3 .
    GC table setup and table

Using the Ask Option

If we want to choose specific x -values for the table, we proceed as above but choose Ask instead of Auto for the Independent variable. Press 2nd GRAPH to see the table, then enter the x -values, pressing ENTER after each one.

Troubleshooting

  1. If the table shows ERROR for a y -value, the expression you entered is undefined at the corresponding x -value.
  2. If the table shows only x -values, no equation is activated. Press Y= to enter or activate an equation.

Modeling, Functions, and Graphs by Katherine Yoshiwara (yoshiwarabooks.org), GNU Free Documentation License 1.2 or later. Adapted for the XYZ HTML edition with the authors' permission (recorded 2026-07-04). License: GFDL-1.2-or-later.