Mathematics & Science Learning Center
Computer Laboratory

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Unfortunately for us, Mathematica does not have a specific function built-in for plotting the slope fields of differential equations. However, it does come very close to what we need with the VectorPlot command. To ask Mathematica for its syntax we would issue the following command:

?VectorPlot

Use the link below to launch Mathematica with a new notebook, then type in the above command, hit ENTER, and come back here to continue. (Note: Unlike the introductory notebooks you recently completed, from now on your will be creating your own notebooks from scratch. None of the commands will have been entered into Mathematica for you. You will be working with a "blank canvas.")

Let's go and see what you should have gotten...

If you're lost, impatient, want an overview of this laboratory assignment, or maybe even all three, you can click on the compass button on the left to go to the table of contents for this laboratory assignment.