3 Dimensional Cartesian Graphs
The Cartesian coordinate system is named after its chief inventor Rene Descartes (1596-1650). This system is also referred to as the "Rectangular Coordinate System". To create a new 3D Cartesian graph select the "File / New 3D Cartesian" menu item. Two different types of functions can be added to a 3D graph.

2D function rotated into 3D
This function type is created by rotating a 2 dimensional function around an axis. In this example the 2D parabola "Y = X^2" is rotated about the "Y" axis.

3D Function
This function type is created by plotting function points with three variables (X, Y, Z). These functions have one dependent (range) variable and two independent (domain) variables. The dependent variable may be "X", "Y", or "Z". In this example "Y = X^3"; "Y" is the dependent variable, and "X", "Z" are the independent variables.