Desmos is an advanced

graphing calculator Graphing Calculator may refer to: * Graphing calculators, calculators that are able to display and/or analyze mathematical function graphs * NuCalc, a computer software program able to perform many graphing calculator functions * Grapher, th ...

implemented as a

web application A web application (or web app) is application software that is created with web technologies and runs via a web browser. Web applications emerged during the late 1990s and allowed for the server to dynamically build a response to the request, ...

and a

mobile application A mobile application or app is a computer program or software application designed to run on a mobile device such as a phone, tablet, or watch. Mobile applications often stand in contrast to desktop applications which are designed to run on d ...

written in

TypeScript TypeScript (abbreviated as TS) is a high-level programming language that adds static typing with optional type annotations to JavaScript. It is designed for developing large applications and transpiles to JavaScript. It is developed by Micr ...

and

JavaScript JavaScript (), often abbreviated as JS, is a programming language and core technology of the World Wide Web, alongside HTML and CSS. Ninety-nine percent of websites use JavaScript on the client side for webpage behavior. Web browsers have ...

History

Desmos was founded by Eli Luberoff, a

math Mathematics is a field of study that discovers and organizes methods, Mathematical theory, theories and theorems that are developed and Mathematical proof, proved for the needs of empirical sciences and mathematics itself. There are many ar ...

and

physics Physics is the scientific study of matter, its Elementary particle, fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge whi ...

double major from

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...

, and was launched as a startup at

TechCrunch TechCrunch is an American global online newspaper focusing on topics regarding high tech, high-tech and Startup company, startup companies. It was founded in June 2005 by Archimedes Ventures, led by partners Michael Arrington and Keith Teare. I ...

's Disrupt New York conference in 2011. , it had received around 1 million US dollars of funding from Kapor Capital, Learn Capital, Kindler Capital, Elm Street Ventures and

Google Ventures GV Management Company, L.L.C. (file no. 4726690) is a venture capital investment arm of Alphabet Inc., founded by Bill Maris, that provides seed, venture, and growth stage funding to technology companies. Founded as Google Ventures in 2010, th ...

. The name ''Desmos'' came from the Greek word which means a bond or a tie. In May 2022, Amplify acquired the Desmos curriculum and teacher.desmos.com. Some 50 employees joined Amplify. Desmos Studio was spun off as a separate public benefit corporation focused on building calculator products and other math tools. In May 2023, Desmos released a beta for a remade Geometry Tool. In it, geometrical shapes can be made, as well as expressions from the normal graphing calculator, with extra features. In September 2023, Desmos released a beta for a 3D calculator, which added features on top of the 2D calculator, including cross products, partial derivatives and double-variable parametric equations.

Features

In addition to graphing both

equation In mathematics, an equation is a mathematical formula that expresses the equality of two expressions, by connecting them with the equals sign . The word ''equation'' and its cognates in other languages may have subtly different meanings; for ...

s and

inequalities Inequality may refer to: * Inequality (mathematics), a relation between two quantities when they are different. * Economic inequality, difference in economic well-being between population groups ** Income inequality, an unequal distribution of i ...

, it also features lists, plots, regressions, interactive variables, graph restriction, simultaneous graphing,

piecewise In mathematics, a piecewise function (also called a piecewise-defined function, a hybrid function, or a function defined by cases) is a function whose domain is partitioned into several intervals ("subdomains") on which the function may be ...

function graphing,

recursive Recursion occurs when the definition of a concept or process depends on a simpler or previous version of itself. Recursion is used in a variety of disciplines ranging from linguistics to logic. The most common application of recursion is in m ...

function graphing,

polar Polar may refer to: Geography * Geographical pole, either of the two points on Earth where its axis of rotation intersects its surface ** Polar climate, the climate common in polar regions ** Polar regions of Earth, locations within the polar circ ...

function graphing, two types of graphing grids – among other computational features commonly found in a

programmable calculator Programmable calculators are calculators that can automatically carry out a sequence of operations under the control of a stored computer programming, program. Most are Turing complete, and, as such, are theoretically general-purpose computers. ...

. It can also be used in several languages. Calculus operations such as

derivative In mathematics, the derivative is a fundamental tool that quantifies the sensitivity to change of a function's output with respect to its input. The derivative of a function of a single variable at a chosen input value, when it exists, is t ...

s and

integrals In mathematics, an integral is the continuous analog of a sum, which is used to calculate areas, volumes, and their generalizations. Integration, the process of computing an integral, is one of the two fundamental operations of calculus,Int ...

are also available, although direct limits are currently absent. Integrations to positive and negative infinity are supported, and series can also be raised to sufficiently high iterations. Other functions like trigonometric and other

transcendental functions In mathematics, a transcendental function is an analytic function that does not satisfy a polynomial equation whose coefficients are functions of the independent variable that can be written using only the basic operations of addition, subtraction ...

, as well as the

error function In mathematics, the error function (also called the Gauss error function), often denoted by , is a function \mathrm: \mathbb \to \mathbb defined as: \operatorname z = \frac\int_0^z e^\,\mathrm dt. The integral here is a complex Contour integrat ...

factorial In mathematics, the factorial of a non-negative denoted is the Product (mathematics), product of all positive integers less than or equal The factorial also equals the product of n with the next smaller factorial: \begin n! &= n \times ...

, statistical operations such as the

normal distribution In probability theory and statistics, a normal distribution or Gaussian distribution is a type of continuous probability distribution for a real-valued random variable. The general form of its probability density function is f(x) = \frac ...

, chi-squared, the aforementioned regressions, the random function, and recursive functions have also been introduced since 2020. In November 2023, Desmos gave users the ability to bring sound to their graphs, allowing them to produce tones of a given frequency and gain. Users can create accounts and save the graphs and plots that they have created to them. A

permalink A permalink or permanent link is a URL that is intended to remain unchanged for many years into the future, yielding a hyperlink that is less susceptible to link rot. Permalinks are often rendered simply, that is, as clean URLs, to be easier to ...

can then be generated which allows users to share their graphs and elect to be considered for staff picks. The tool comes pre-programmed with 36 different example graphs for the purpose of teaching new users about the tool and the mathematics involved. As of April 2017, Desmos also released a browser-based 2D interactive geometry tool, with supporting features including the plotting of points, lines, circles, and polygons. In May 2023, Desmos released a beta version of a second, more sophisticated geometry calculator. Another popular use of the calculator involves the creation of graphic arts using

s and

. Some of these projects have included features such as 3D via parameterization, and with the use of RGB and HSV colouring introduced in late 2020, artwork with custom colouring, as well as the domain colouring of complex functions. With new performance updates, graphs that include the

Mandelbrot set The Mandelbrot set () is a two-dimensional set (mathematics), set that is defined in the complex plane as the complex numbers c for which the function f_c(z)=z^2+c does not Stability theory, diverge to infinity when Iteration, iterated starting ...

and the Ducks fractal can be made on Desmos. Features such as simulations and tickers also allowed users to create functional interactive games. The usage of these features can be found in Desmos's annual art contest. Desmos Julia Set

Desmos also offers other services: the Scientific Calculator, Four Function Calculator, Matrix Calculator, Geometry Tool, Geometry Calculator, 3D Graphing Calculator, and Desmos Test Mode.

Applications

A modified version of the calculator has been used in

standardized test A standardized test is a Test (assessment), test that is administered and scored in a consistent or standard manner. Standardized tests are designed in such a way that the questions and interpretations are consistent and are administered and scored ...

s, such as the

State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, commonly referred to as its acronym STAAR ( ), is a series of standardized tests used in Texas public primary education, primary and secondary education, secondary schools to assess a studen ...

test, the

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

Standards of Learning The Standards of Learning (SOL) is a public school standardized testing program in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It sets forth learning and achievement expectations for core subjects for grades K-12 in Virginia's Public Schools. The standards repres ...

(SOL), the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) and the SAT. On the upcoming 2025

AP Exams Advanced Placement (AP) examinations are exams offered in United States by the College Board and are taken each May by students. The tests are the culmination of year-long Advanced Placement (AP) courses, which are typically offered at the high sch ...

, the calculator will be available in all exams where a calculator is required or optional, except

AP Statistics Advanced Placement (AP) Statistics (also known as AP Stats) is a college-level high school statistics course offered in the United States through the College Board's Advanced Placement program. This course is equivalent to a one semester, non-ca ...

and on exams taken in

Kansas Kansas ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the west. Kansas is named a ...

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

. Activity modules for classrooms can be created through a teacher account, which allow instructors to view students' work and response in real-time. Its business model involves paid partnerships with publishers, assessment companies, and educational institutions. The calculator and graphing features can also be found on AssessPrep, an examination site used by many schools following the IB Curriculum.

References

External links

* {{Calculator navbox 2011 software Graphing calculator software Organizations based in San Francisco JavaScript software Internet properties established in 2011 Educational math software

History

Features

Applications

See also

References

External links