SAT MATH · DESMOS

Learn Desmos, then solve

A short hands-on guide to graphing, intersections, roots, and tables. Follow each step in the calculator below.

The calculator shown here is for practice; the test-day version can have different settings.

Five things to try

The examples are original teaching examples, not official SAT questions. Type the English expressions exactly as shown.

Type an equation in the expression list on the left. The graph appears on the right.

y=2x+1

Check what you should see

The line crosses the y-axis at 1. Try changing 2 to -2 and watch the slope.

Enter both equations on separate lines. Select their intersection point on the graph to read its coordinates.

y=2x+1y=7

Check what you should see

The intersection is (3, 7), so x = 3 solves 2x + 1 = 7.

Graph the expression as y = … . The x-intercepts are the solutions when y = 0.

y=x^2-5x+6

Check what you should see

The graph crosses the x-axis at x = 2 and x = 3.

Graph a quadratic and select its highest or lowest point. Check the vertex form to confirm.

y=(x-2)^2-3

Check what you should see

The minimum is the vertex (2, -3).

Enter the function, then type f(4) on a new line. For many inputs, select Edit List then Create Table.

f(x)=2x+1f(4)

Check what you should see

At x = 4, f(4) = 9. A table is useful when comparing several x-values.

Apply these steps to reviewed Desmos-first questions. One set is free with a learner account.