When I was in high school, I used a laptop that did not have internet access to complete assignments and access materials in my in-person classes. I was still very new to researching assistive technology for math, and knew that I couldn’t see the graphs on the TI-84 calculator that my teachers often used, so I had to find another way to read graphs with low vision. This solution ended up being Graph, a free and open-source application for Windows that provided me with an easy way to plot graphs and enlarge them as a student with low vision. Is Graph a fantastic tool with lots of accessibility features? Not exactly, but I’ve talked about it frequently when I do presentations or interviews about my experiences with assistive technology for math, so I wanted to put all of my notes on it in one place. Here is how I use Graph with low vision, and how it helped me in high school.
Overview of Graph
Graph is a free open-source application developed by Ivan Johansen that can be used to draw mathematical graphs on a coordinate system. It does not require an internet connection and can be used to draw standard functions, parametric functions, and polar functions, as well as point series and relations. Graph has not been updated since 2012, but can still be downloaded from the developer website and can run on any Windows computer. Graph can also be used with multiple languages including English, French, Spanish, German, Dutch, Portuguese, and more.
Related links
Graph application interface
After installing the Graph application, the default screen is a blank coordinate plane with a toolbar at the top of the screen. This includes icons as well as drop-down menus with headings such as File, Edit, Function, Zoom, Calc, and Help. There is also a sidebar that can be adjusted to show the layers of a different graph, such as the axes and equations. I’ve included some of my most-used features that I used below.
File: Save as Image (Ctrl+B)
The file menu primarily contains information about creating a new coordinate system file, opening an existing file, or saving a file. I would primarily use the Save as Image option with the .png extension, so I could insert the finished graph into a digital assignment or share it with my teacher.
Edit: Axes (Ctrl+A)
Within the Edit Axes dialog box, users can edit or customize the following functions:
- Minimum and maximum values for X and Y axes
- Tick unit and grid unit for X and Y axes
- Indicate where the X and Y axis cross (y=0 by default)
- Enable logarithmic scale, show numbers, show as multiple of pi
- Add label for X and Y axes
- Settings: Add a title and show/hide legend
- Font and color: Customize background color, axes color, and grid color, as well as the font, font style, and font size for labels, numbers, and legend fonts. Font sizes are supported up to size 72 pt font and there are options for customizing the font color as well.
Users can also select a checkbox to save these settings as default, so that they will be automatically enabled when creating new files in the future.
Edit: Options
Users can configure default options for Graph coordinate systems, including the number of decimals shown, font scale, language, and the option to save the workspace before exiting the program. I use a font scale of 150% since some information started to run off the screen at 200%, and use supplemental magnification tools (more on that later).
Graph toolbar
Graph’s toolbar contains quick access to several functions, including options for configuring axis settings, inserting a new function, inserting a point series, inserting labels, etc. There are also options to zoom in/out and to move the coordinate system with a mouse, clicking and dragging across the screen to observe an area.
The toolbar can be customized by right-clicking on the tool bar and selecting the Customize option to open a dialog box, and then selecting a category and dragging the command from the dialog box to the toolbar.
When I was in high school and taking Algebra and Geometry classes, I had the following items pinned to my toolbar:
- New coordinate system (Ctrl+N)
- Open coordinate system (Ctrl+O)
- Save (Ctrl+S)
- Save as image (Ctrl+B)
- Axes settings (Ctrl+A)
- Insert new function (Ins)
- Insert point series (F4)
- Add a new equation or inequality (F6)- this is the same menu as Insert Relation
- Insert text label (F8)
- Zoom in/out (Ctrl+=, Ctrl+-)
- Zoom to selected window (Ctrl+W)
- Move the coordinate system with a mouse (Ctrl+M)
I memorized the location of each of these items on the toolbar, and could also open them with a keyboard shortcut if needed.
Insert a new function (Ins)
The reason I started using Graph is because I wanted an easy way to graph functions from math problems and enlarge them digitally, either with the built-in zoom for the application or with a screen magnifier. When inserting a new function, users can specify the following information:
- Function type: Standard, Parametric, or Polar
- Function equation
- Argument range (from, to, steps)
- Appearance of endpoints
- Legend text description
- Properties: line style, line color, draw type, width
Users can also insert a tangent or normal for the selected function by selecting F2, or add shading with keyboard shortcut F3.
Insert point series (F4) and Insert relation (F6)
Another helpful feature of Graph is the option to plot a point series of x and y coordinates, along with trend lines and options for adding labels to the coordinates. Similar to inserting a new function, users can customize coordinate type, appearance of coordinates, display properties like color and size/line width, and location of labels. When inputting coordinates, I would use keyboard shortcuts like the enter key to advance to the next field or arrow keys to move between cells and correct input if needed.
Users can also insert a relation with constraints into their graph, with options for customizing the shading style, color, and line width (thickness).
Viewing and editing functions, points, and relations in Graph
On the left side of the screen, Graph displays a sidebar with colored icons and labels corresponding to functions, point series, and relations that have been inserted into the coordinate system. Unchecking a box will hide the element from view but not delete it, which can be helpful when isolating different values. Users can edit or view more details about an element by using the arrow keys or mouse to select a function/point series/relation and then pressing the enter key.
Related links
- How To Create High Resolution Images For Low Vision
- How I Show Work For Math With Low Vision and Dysgraphia
- How I Document Accessibility Preferences With Low Vision
- Choosing High Contrast Color Schemes For Low Vision
- How To Create An Accessible Formula Sheet
How I use Graph with large print and screen magnification
When inserting text labels and customizing the display of content, I would opt for large font sizes for labels and thick lines- I could customize the line color and width so it was easier for me to see where items were located. I also would use a large print font size for the number font on the axis labels.
I discovered that using the font scale setting in the Options menu sometimes distorted the display of different features since I was already using display scaling on my computer. For that reason, I would enlarge content on Graph using the Zoom features within the application to get a closer look at areas, or I would use Windows Magnifier with the Lens view to enlarge menus and text within the application.
Related links
- Windows Magnifier and Low Vision
- Math Test Accommodations For Low Vision
- Writing Aids For Low Vision: My Personal Superlatives
How I use Graph with keyboard shortcuts
Graph does not support full keyboard access or screen readers, which isn’t something I personally needed it to have. However, I did use it frequently with keyboard shortcuts since I didn’t always have an external mouse in the classroom, and Graph maintains a list of keyboard shortcuts in their documentation- I have linked the English page below.
Related links
My thoughts on Graph as a student with low vision
My primary reason for using Graph was to create large print and high contrast versions of the graphs I would encounter in the math classroom, since many of the thin lines that were on paper or in textbooks were difficult for me to see, especially when they were in low resolution. Sometimes my math tutor would input equations for me from my math notes or homework to enlarge them in a high contrast format as well, but the primary reason why I used it so often was because I could use it by myself, without internet access, and I had the freedom to customize things like the colors and line weights that I wouldn’t have had with other tools at the time.
I also really struggled with drawing graphs due to dysgraphia, so having the option to export my graph as an image saved me from having to draw on my homework- I often would fail these questions because it was hard for me to draw or trace lines and equations by hand; even though I knew what the answer looked like in my head, I couldn’t quite get it out on paper. So having access to an offline tool that I could easily insert into my notes or in a document to share with my teacher was really valuable to have.
Now, are there more accessible graphing tools for low vision that students can use? Of course. Am I grateful to Graph for helping me get through high school math with low vision? Absolutely, and I’ve continued to share it in my recommendations for students and teachers looking for a free graphing tool with minimalist features and options for custom font sizes and colors.
Related links
- My Favorite Free Math Websites For Low Vision
- How I Show Work For Math With Low Vision and Dysgraphia
- Strategies For Using Lined Paper With Low Vision
- Choosing A Tutor For Low Vision Students
- National Homework Hotline: Free Tutoring For Blind and Visually Impaired Students
Epilogue
While accessing math in high school with limited assistive technology and low vision resources was definitely challenging, learning how to use tools like screen magnification, keyboard shortcuts, and large print fonts helped me to be more successful in college. I graduated with a B.S in Computational and Data Sciences and earned high grades in classes like Trigonometry, Discrete Math, Statistics, Calculus 1, and Calculus 2. Admittedly, I didn’t use Graph in any of these classes, but developing these tech skills with Graph did prepare me for the more advanced software I would later use in college.
Related links
- My Talk At A Future Date: What I Wish I Learned About AT Before Starting College
- ALEKS Accessibility For Visual Impairment
- How I’m Using MyMathLab With Low Vision
- Five Accessible Calculator Apps For Low Vision
- Questions To Ask When Choosing A Laptop For College
More resources on math for low vision and graph accessibility
- Want to learn more about low-tech or no-tech tools I’ve used for drawing graphs? Read No-Tech Solutions For Drawing Graphs With Low Vision And Dysgraphia
- Read more posts related to math by visiting my post category Science And Math Archives | Veronica With Four Eyes (veroniiiica.com)
Published March 20, 2024. Updated May 2024